Rockwall, TX Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime limit
- 65 dBA (L10) / 55 dBA (L90)
- Residential nighttime limit
- 60 dBA (L10) / 50 dBA (L90)
- Industrial zone limit
- 85 dBA (L10) / 75 dBA (L90)
- Nighttime hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Measured at
- receiving property boundary
Summary
Rockwall caps stationary sound at the property line: 65/55 dBA daytime and 60/50 dBA at night in residential zones, higher in commercial and industrial districts.
It shall be a violation of this article for any person to operate or permit to be operated any stationary source of sound which creates a unit percentile sound level (L1) greater than 15 dbA above the ambient sound pressure level (L90)... Residential: 7:00 a.m.--10:00 p.m. 65/55; 10:00 p.m.--7:00 a.m. 60/50. Commercial/Agricultural: 72/62 and 67/57. Industrial: 85/75.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
City code sets a table of maximum sound levels measured at the receiving property boundary. Residential zones are capped at 65 dBA (L10) / 55 dBA (L90) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., dropping to 60/50 dBA overnight. Commercial and agricultural zones allow 72/62 dBA daytime and 67/57 dBA overnight; industrial zones allow 85/75 dBA at all hours. A stationary source also can't exceed 15 dBA above ambient background in a residential zone. Measurements run 10 to 30 minutes with a Type II or better A-weighted sound level meter.
Violations & Fines
Enforced by the police department on complaint or observation; violating the decibel table or creating a prohibited noise disturbance is a misdemeanor citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What decibel level is legal in a Rockwall neighborhood at night?
Are limits different for commercial or industrial areas?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockwall
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Rockwall to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
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