Seattle, WA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential-to-residential limit
- 55 dB(A) Leq
- Industrial-to-industrial limit
- 70 dB(A) Leq
- Short-peak allowance
- Lmax up to 15 dB(A) over limit
- BINMIC shoreline exception
- 70 dB(A) within 200 feet of shoreline
- First-citation penalty
- $150 (SMC 25.08.960)
- Enforcing agency
- Seattle Dept. of Construction and Inspections
Summary
Seattle sets numeric exterior noise limits by zoning district under SMC 25.08.410 Table A, ranging from 55 dB(A) between residential properties up to 70 dB(A) for industrial-to-industrial noise, measured as a one-minute or one-hour Leq. Brief peaks (Lmax) may run up to 15 dB(A) above the table's limit before counting as a violation.
A.The exterior sound level limits are based on the Leq during the measurement interval, using a minimum measurement interval of one minute for a constant sound source, or a one-hour measurement for a non-continuous sound source. For sound sources located within the City, the exterior sound level limits are as shown in Table A for 25.08.410: Table A for 25.08.410, Exterior sound level limits. District of sound source | District of receiving property: Residential (dB(A)) (Leq) | Commercial (dB(A)) (Leq) | Industrial (dB(A)) (Leq). Residential 55 57 60. Commercial 57 60 65. Industrial 60(1) 65(1) 70. Footnote for Table A for 25.08.410: 1 Except the sound level limit from a sound source that originates on property within the Ballard Interbay Northend Manufacturing and Industrial Center (BINMIC) and is within 200 feet of a shoreline is 70 (dB(A)) (Leq) in both residential and commercial receiving property districts. B.During a measurement interval, Lmax may exceed the exterior sound level limits shown in subsection 25.08.410.A by no more than 15 dB(A).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
A bases the exterior sound level limits on the Leq measured over at least one minute for a constant sound source, or one hour for a non-continuous source. Table A sets the limit by pairing the district of the sound source against the district of the receiving property: a residential source measured on residential receiving property is capped at 55 dB(A), on commercial property at 57 dB(A), and on industrial property at 60 dB(A); a commercial source is capped at 57, 60, and 65 dB(A) on residential, commercial, and industrial receiving property respectively; and an industrial source is capped at 60, 65, and 70 dB(A) on the same three district types.
A footnote raises the residential and commercial limits to 70 dB(A) for sources within the Ballard Interbay Northend Manufacturing and Industrial Center (BINMIC) that sit within 200 feet of a shoreline. B lets the Lmax, the highest instantaneous reading during the measurement interval, exceed the Table A limit by up to 15 dB(A) without triggering a violation. weekends. 960.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the Table A limit measured at the receiving property line is a violation of SMC 25.08.410, enforced by SDCI. Under SMC 25.08.960, a citation carries $150 for a first violation, $300 for a second, and $600 for a third or subsequent violation; alternatively, the Administrator may pursue civil penalties of up to $1,300 per day under SMC 25.08.800.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Seattle's exterior noise limit between two houses?
Are Seattle's industrial noise limits higher than residential ones?
Can Seattle sound levels briefly exceed the Table A limit?
What's the penalty for exceeding Seattle's noise limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seattle
Compare Seattle to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle decibel limits.