Sarasota County, FL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential day/night
- 65/55 dBA (70/60 dBC)
- Commercial day/night
- 75/70 dBA (80/75 dBC)
- Governmental/OPI day/night
- 65/60 dBA (70/65 dBC)
- Industrial
- 75 dBA / 80 dBC at all times
- Impulse sound bonus
- +6 dB, 7a-8p only
- Backup measurement
- Table II used at receiving property
- Meter standard
- ANSI Type II, measured 5 feet high
Summary
Sarasota County Code Sec. 54-118 sets hard decibel ceilings by land use and time of day for the unincorporated county: residential parcels top out at 65 dBA (70 dBC) by day and 55 dBA (60 dBC) at night, commercial/business and governmental parcels run higher, and intensive commercial/industrial sites are capped at 75 dBA (80 dBC) around the clock.
(c)Maximum permissible sound levels by generating land use.(1)Continuous sound. The maximum decibel levels from any activity (unless exempted) shall not exceed, at any point on the Generating Property's real property line, the sound level limits listed in Table I below... TABLE I Residential 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 65 70 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 55 60 Commercial/Business 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 75 80 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 70 75 Governmental/OPI 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 65 70 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 60 65 Intensive Commercial/Industrial All times 75 80 ... (2)Impulse sound. ... the time sound pressure levels set forth in Table I shall be increased by six decibels during 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 98).
Full Breakdown
Table I of Sec. ; commercial/business 75/80 dBA/dBC by day and 70/75 at night; governmental/OPI 65/70 by day and 60/65 at night; and intensive commercial/industrial 75/80 dBA/dBC at all times. When an officer cannot safely or practically measure at the generating parcel's line, for example a steep embankment, a fence, or risk of a violent confrontation, Table II applies the same structure at the Receiving Property's line instead, with the residential daytime figure lowered to 60 dBA/65 dBC. Readings are taken with an ANSI Type II sound level meter using both the A-weighted (dBA) and C-weighted (dBC) scales, about five feet above grade, with the meter's 'slow' response setting for continuous sound and 'fast' or 'impulse' setting for brief sounds; a correction factor applies when background noise is within ten decibels of the measured source. m. Violating the numeric ceiling at either table is itself the offense under subsection (c)(1).
Violations & Fines
Exceeding either table is a strict violation regardless of intent. A law enforcement officer issues a written warning on the first substantiated reading, giving 15 minutes to bring the source back under the limit. Ignoring that window, or repeating the violation within 90 days of the warning, moves the case to the County's Chapter 2, Article VIII enforcement board or a criminal charge, carrying up to a $500.00 fine, up to 60 days in jail, or both, with every additional day counted as a new offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum decibel level allowed in a Sarasota County residential neighborhood?
Does a factory or industrial site get a higher decibel allowance?
What if the officer can't measure right at my property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sarasota County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Sarasota County to another location·View the Florida noise ordinances overview
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