North Las Vegas, NV Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Only numeric limit in chapter
- 88 decibels
- Applies to
- Racetrack motor vehicle and loudspeaker noise
- Measured
- At racetrack property boundary, A-weighted meter
- Governing section
- NLVMC 8.28.020(L)
- Review cycle
- Annual City Council review
Summary
North Las Vegas's only fixed decibel number in its noise code applies to racetracks: motor vehicle and loudspeaker sound can't exceed 88 decibels measured at the property boundary. Every other noise source in the city is judged by disturbance, not a meter reading.
L. The operation of a racetrack when the sounds emitted from motor vehicles and loudspeakers exceed eighty-eight (88) decibels when measured from anywhere along the racetrack property boundary. A decibel is a logarithmic and dimensionless unit of measurement for amplitude of sound utilizing sound level meters with the A-weighting network. This noise level standard shall be subject to annual review by the City Council to determine its effectiveness in view of changes to the character of neighborhoods surrounding racetracks and noise attenuation measures taken by racetrack operations;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 146 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 8.28.020(L) of the Noise Control chapter singles out racetracks, prohibiting "the operation of a racetrack when the sounds emitted from motor vehicles and loudspeakers exceed eighty-eight (88) decibels when measured from anywhere along the racetrack property boundary," using an A-weighted sound level meter. The section defines a decibel as "a logarithmic and dimensionless unit of measurement for amplitude of sound," and requires the City Council to review the 88-decibel standard annually to judge its effectiveness against changing neighborhood character and any noise-attenuation measures racetrack operators put in place. Outside this racetrack-specific number, North Las Vegas has no general citywide decibel table by zone or time of day; all other prohibited-noise clauses in Section 8.28.020 (vehicle horns, radios, construction, loudspeakers, animals, etc.) use a disturbance/nuisance standard rather than a measured sound level, so this racetrack cap is the sole quantified decibel limit in the chapter.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding 88 decibels at the racetrack boundary is a misdemeanor under Section 8.28.040, carrying a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in city jail, or both, and each day of continued excess-noise operation can be charged as a separate offense. Civil citations under Chapter 8.70 are also available, starting at $250 for a first offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does North Las Vegas have a citywide decibel limit for noise?
How is racetrack noise measured?
Can the 88-decibel racetrack limit change?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in North Las Vegas
Compare North Las Vegas to another location·View the Nevada noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Clark County handle decibel limits.