Pasco, WA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime limit
- 55 dBA source-to-source Class A
- Nighttime reduction
- 10 dBA cut, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Short spike allowance
- 5 dBA for 15 min/hour
- Park event cap
- 95 dBA Leq at 50 feet
- First penalty
- up to $250.00 civil infraction
- Repeat penalty
- $250-$500 within 2 years
Summary
Pasco caps outdoor noise by matching the EDNA (Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement) class of the source to the receiving property, with limits from 55 to 70 dBA under PMC 9.130.040. Nighttime hours cut the residential limit further, and short spikes above the table are allowed only briefly.
(2) Maximum Noise Levels. No person shall cause or permit noise to intrude into the property of another person, which noise exceeds the maximum permissible noise levels set forth below in this section. (a) The noise limitations established are as set forth in the following table... CLASS A 55 dBA / 57 dBA / 60 dBA; CLASS B 57 / 60 / 65; CLASS C 60 / 65 / 70. (b) Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the noise limitations of the foregoing table shall be reduced by 10 dBA for receiving property within Class A EDNAs.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4837, passed May 4, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040 sorts every zone into an EDNA class: residential is Class A, commercial is Class B, and industrial is Class C. The maximum permissible noise a source may send into a receiving property depends on both classes: a Class A source may not exceed 55 dBA at a Class A receiver, 57 dBA at Class B, or 60 dBA at Class C. A Class B source tops out at 57/60/65 dBA and a Class C source at 60/65/70 dBA against Class A/B/C receivers respectively. , the table's limits drop by 10 dBA for any receiving property inside a Class A (residential) EDNA, so a Class A-to-Class A daytime cap of 55 dBA becomes 45 dBA at night.
The code also tolerates brief spikes: at any hour, a source may exceed the applicable limit by up to 5 dBA for 15 minutes in any hour, 10 dBA for five minutes in any hour, or 15 dBA for 90 seconds in any hour. 070 sets a 95 dBA Leq cap (measured at 50 feet) for sanctioned musical events in public parks, rising to a 105 dBA five-minute threshold that lets the City Manager, Community and Economic Development Director, or Police Chief shut a performance down as a public nuisance. 050 cover temporary home repairs, authorized shooting ranges, blasting, and utility installation during daytime hours, plus categorical exemptions for aircraft, railroads, and emergency equipment.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of the noise chapter is a civil infraction carrying a penalty up to $250.00 under PMC 9.130.090, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense subject to the same $250.00 maximum. A person cited twice or more within a two-year period faces an enhanced penalty of not less than $250.00 and not more than $500.00 per violation. Complaint-based sections require a report from an identifiable affected resident, property owner, or employee before Pasco police or code enforcement will act.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pasco's residential decibel limit at night?
Can Pasco cite noise without a decibel reading?
How high can music get at a Pasco park event?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasco
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