Nashua, NH Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime limit
- 50 dB (7 a.m.-8 p.m.)
- Nighttime limit
- 45 dB (8 p.m.-7 a.m.)
- Applies to
- exterior mechanical equipment, nonresidential buildings
- Measured at
- any abutting residential district lot line
- Governing section
- § 190-172(F), Land Use Code
Summary
Nashua caps noise from exterior mechanical equipment on nonresidential buildings at 50 decibels from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 45 decibels from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., measured at any lot line abutting a residential zoning district.
Mechanical appurtenances shall include any necessary sound buffer and/or noise attenuation equipment sufficient to reduce sound levels to 50 decibels during the daytime hours (7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and 45 decibels during the nighttime hours (8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) along any lot line abutting a residential zoning district.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4805762; v29 updated 2026-02-10; through 02-10-2026).
Full Breakdown
Nashua's zoning code sets a hard decibel ceiling only for exterior mechanical equipment on nonresidential buildings: heating, air-conditioning and similar appurtenances must include sound buffering sufficient to hold noise to 50 decibels between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., dropping to 45 decibels from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., measured at any lot line abutting a residential zoning district. The citywide noise ordinance in Chapter 201 does not use a decibel number at all, it bans sound clearly audible more than 50 feet from its source. Section 190-172(F) is the only place in the code with an actual dB figure.
Violations & Fines
Enforced by the Zoning Administrator and Code Enforcement Department as a site-plan/zoning standard; zoning violations are punishable under RSA 676:11 through 676:19.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nashua have a citywide decibel limit for noise?
What decibel limit applies to rooftop HVAC units near homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashua
Compare Nashua to another location·View the New Hampshire noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle decibel limits.