Olympia, WA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Noise limits in the City of Olympia are set in OMC 18.40.080(B). Maximum allowable noise levels measured at the property line of noise impacted uses are those in Washington Administrative Code Chapter 173-60, incorporated by reference except as otherwise provided in the section. The EDNA classes follow land use: all living areas (single-family, multifamily and so on) and medical service and professional office/residential multi are Class A, all other commercial areas are Class B, and light industrial and industrial are Class C. Noise levels of any sound source, measured as WAC 173-60 prescribes, cannot exceed the values in Table N.

Table N is organized by source class. For a Class A (residential) source heard in Class A receptors, it prints maximum sound levels of 55, 60, 65 and 70 for 7 a.m.-10 p.m., with durations of Continually, 15, 5 and 1, and 45, 50, 55 and 60 for 10 p.m.-7 a.m., with durations of Continually, 15, 5 and 5, read in printed order. The duration column is minutes in any one-hour period, and footnote ** says the total cannot exceed 15 minutes in any one hour. Footnote *** says the lower EDNA A levels apply on all hours of the weekends and holidays. The Class B (commercial) source section starts at 57 daytime and 47 nighttime, and the Class C (industrial) source section starts at 60 and 50.

Two related rules appear elsewhere. OMC 18.40.080(E) requires residential and office buildings within 300 feet of an Industrial or Light Industrial-Commercial zone to use noise attenuation construction or buffering so state noise standards are met. Motor vehicles have separate limits in OMC 8.32.070, measured at fifty feet, enforced by the noise control officer, the chief of police.