Port Orange, FL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime limit
- 60 dBA (7am-10pm)
- Residential nighttime limit
- 50 dBA (10pm-7am)
- Manufacturing/industrial limit
- 75 dBA, all times
- Noise-sensitive zone limit
- 55 dBA, all times
Summary
Port Orange caps sound levels by land use and time of day under Section 42-80's Table I: 60 dBA daytime and 50 dBA at night in residential zones, 65/55 dBA for commercial, a flat 75 dBA for manufacturing and industrial, and 55 dBA at all times in noise-sensitive zones like hospitals and schools.
(a)No person shall operate or cause to be operated any source of sound from any occupancy in such a manner as to create a sound level which exceeds the limits set forth for the use occupancy in table I of this section, when measured at or beyond the property boundary of the land use from which the sound emanates. ... TABLE I
Use occupancy category Time Sound level limit dBA Residential 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m. 60 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. 50 Commercial or business 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m. 65 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. 55 Manufacturing, industrial or agriculture All times 75 Noise sensitive zone All times 55
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 43 | Land Development Code: Supplement 38).
Full Breakdown
Section 42-80(a) makes it unlawful to operate any source of sound from an occupancy so as to exceed the limits set for that use in Table I, measured at or beyond the property boundary from which the sound comes. ; a commercial or business limit of 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA at night; a flat 75 dBA at all times for manufacturing, industrial or agricultural use; and a flat 55 dBA at all times for noise-sensitive zones, defined in Section 42-79(a) as areas containing hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries and churches.
Subsection (b) adds that sound crossing from one use district into a stricter district must meet the stricter district's limit, not the limit of the district where it originated. Section 42-80(c) allows two five-decibel corrections for non-continuous noise: impulsive noise such as hammering, drilling or power sawing, and periodic noise such as a hum or screech, though only one correction may be applied to a given source at a time. Measurements are taken with an ANSI-compliant Type 2 sound level meter on the A-weighting scale, at or beyond the property line, about five feet above ground, per Section 42-79(b).
Separate, higher limits apply inside the city's designated entertainment districts (Riverwalk, Down Under, and Ridgewood/Commonwealth) under Section 42-83, which run as high as 80 dBA on Thursday through Saturday nights in the Riverwalk district.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the Table I limit at the property line is a violation of Sections 42-77 and 42-80, enforced by the code enforcement officer or police under Section 42-84. Isolated violations can draw a police citation on the spot; continuous or recurring violations go to the special magistrate. Every possessor of the property, whether owner, tenant or manager, can be held responsible and punished, and it is no defense that someone else actually caused the sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can noise legally be at my house at night in Port Orange?
Do commercial businesses get a higher noise allowance?
Are hospitals and schools protected by a stricter limit?
Who enforces the noise limits and how?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Port Orange
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Volusia County handle decibel limits.