St. Clair County, IL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- County dBA ordinance
- None
- Governing standard
- 35 Ill. Adm. Code 900-901
- Method
- Octave-band sound pressure
- Residential land class
- Class A
- Nighttime
- Stricter, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
Summary
St. Clair County sets no local decibel ordinance. Measurable noise is judged against the Illinois Pollution Control Board's octave-band sound limits (35 Ill. Adm. Code 901), which are lower at night between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
No person shall cause or allow the emission of sound during nighttime hours from any property-line noise source located on any Class A, B or C land to any receiving Class A land that exceeds any allowable octave band sound pressure level specified in the following table.
Full Breakdown
Neither the county Zoning Ordinance nor county nuisance code lists numeric dBA thresholds. Instead, Illinois applies statewide octave-band sound-pressure limits set by the Illinois Pollution Control Board under 35 Ill. Adm. Code 900-901. Those limits vary by land class (residential land is Class A) and are stricter during nighttime hours. Enforcement of the state limits runs through the Illinois EPA and Pollution Control Board rather than the county. For everyday disturbances the county relies on its nuisance provisions and 720 ILCS 5/26-1 disorderly conduct rather than a meter reading. Cities may adopt their own decibel ordinances.
Violations & Fines
Exceedances of IPCB limits are enforced by the Illinois EPA/Pollution Control Board with cease-and-desist orders and civil penalties, not county fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What decibel level is too loud in the county?
Who measures noise against these limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Clair County
Compare St. Clair County to another location·View the Illinois noise ordinances overview
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