The county sets no decibel limit. Killeen caps noise at the property line at 3 dBA over ambient or 50 dBA (A-weighted), whichever is higher (60 dBA C-weighted). Statewide, noise over 85 dB can be presumed unreasonable after warning.
Bell County itself imposes no numeric decibel standard because Texas counties lack that authority. Killeen sets the clearest measured limit: it is unlawful to produce noise that, on the A-weighted fast-response scale, exceeds 3 decibels over ambient or a maximum of 50 decibels, whichever is higher; on the C-weighted scale, 5 decibels over ambient or 60 decibels, whichever is higher, measured at the noise-producing property's line. Temple's code uses a nuisance standard rather than fixed decibels. Statewide, Texas Penal Code 42.01(c) presumes noise 'unreasonable' if it exceeds 85 decibels after the person receives notice from a magistrate or peace officer that it is a public nuisance.
Killeen: misdemeanor, $100-$2,000 fine; measurement per Sec. 16-81(e). State Penal Code 42.01 unreasonable-noise (85 dB after notice) is a Class C misdemeanor, up to $500.
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