New Orleans, LA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential day cap
- 60 dBA (L10) / 70 dBA (Lmax)
- Residential night cap
- 55 dBA (L10) / 60 dBA (Lmax)
- Commercial day cap
- 65 dBA (L10) / 75 dBA (Lmax)
- Industrial cap (24/7)
- 75 dBA (L10) / 85 dBA (Lmax)
- Night hours
- 10 p.m.–7 a.m. weekdays
- Required meter
- ANSI Type 2 A-weighted sound level meter
- Violation penalty
- up to 90 days jail (§66-140)
Summary
New Orleans caps ambient noise by zone and time of day under City Code § 66-202's Table 1: residential areas can't exceed 60 dBA (L10) / 70 dBA (Lmax) by day, dropping to 55/60 dBA overnight; commercial areas run 65/75 dBA by day and 60/65 dBA at night; and industrial zones are capped at 75/85 dBA around the clock, measured at the property boundary.
(a)No person shall operate or cause to be operated any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level which exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land use category in table 1.(b)L10 is the A-weighted sound pressure level which is exceeded ten percent of the time in any measurement period. The measurement period shall not be less than ten minutes when measured at or beyond the property boundary of the receiving land use category...(c)For any source of sound the maximum sound level (Lmax) shall not be exceeded. TABLE 1: Resident, public space: 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m., L10 60 dBA / Lmax 70 dBA; 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m., L10 55 dBA / Lmax 60 dBA. Business and commercial: 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m., L10 65 dBA / Lmax 75 dBA; 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m., L10 60 dBA / Lmax 65 dBA. Industrial: At all times, L10 75 dBA / Lmax 85 dBA.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 116 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 66-202(a) bars operating any sound source that exceeds Table 1's limits for the receiving land use category. L10, defined in (b), is the A-weighted level exceeded 10% of any measurement period of at least ten minutes, taken at or beyond the property boundary; Lmax, under (c), is a hard ceiling that can never be exceeded. For two-family or multi-family dwellings, sound is measured inside the adjacent unit (d). Where a source can be measured across more than one land-use category, the more restrictive limit governs at the boundary and within that stricter category, except in the Vieux Carré entertainment district (SHD/VCE), which instead allows 10 dB above ambient or 60 dB, whichever is higher (e).
' Measurement itself must use a calibrated ANSI Type 2 (or better) A-weighted sound level meter, with 'fast' instrument response for motor vehicles and 'slow' response for other sources (§66-201). Table 1 works alongside the construction-hours exemption in §66-138 and the specific nuisance list in §66-203, which separately caps public musical devices at 80 dBA measured 50 feet from the source regardless of zone.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding Table 1's dBA limits for the applicable land use and time period is a misdemeanor under §66-140, punishable by a fine up to the applicable state-law cap, imprisonment up to 90 days, or both, with each day of continued exceedance treated as a separate offense. The department of health may also seek a restraining order or injunction under §66-141 to stop an ongoing violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can noise legally be in a New Orleans residential area?
Are commercial areas allowed to be louder?
How is noise measured for enforcement?
What if my property borders two different noise zones?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Orleans
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