Shoreline, WA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Class A daytime limit
- 55 dBA (7 a.m.-10 p.m. weekdays)
- Class A nighttime limit
- 45 dBA (10 p.m.-7 a.m. weekdays)
- Class B limit
- 57 dBA
- Class C limit
- 60 dBA
- Fine
- $100.00 per violation, per day
- Enforcing agency
- Code enforcement officer or Shoreline Police
Summary
SMC § 9.05.040's Table 1 caps how much sound may cross into another property: a Class A (residential) EDNA may receive no more than 55 dBA in daytime hours and 45 dBA at night, while Class B and Class C receiving properties are capped at 57 and 60 dBA. Code enforcement or the Shoreline Police Department can cite violators for a civil infraction.
Table 1. Maximum Permissible Environmental Noise Levels EDNA of Noise Source EDNA of Receiving Property Class A (dBA) Class B (dBA) Class C (dBA) 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Weekdays 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Weekends 10 p.m.–7 a.m. Weekdays 10 p.m.–9 a.m. Weekends Class A 55 45 57 60 ... Deviations. The following deviations from the maximum permissible environmental noise levels set forth in Table 1 of this section are permitted: ... Five dBA for 15 minutes in any one-hour period; or ... Ten dBA for five minutes in any one-hour period; or ... Fifteen dBA for 1.5 minutes in any one-hour period.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 9.05's Table 1, headed "Maximum Permissible Environmental Noise Levels," sets numeric limits keyed to Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement (EDNA) zones defined at § 9.05.020: Class A covers residential and mixed-use residential zones, Class B covers nonresidential zones, and Class C covers industrial zones, cross-referenced to the Unified Development Code at SMC § 20.40.20. For sound from a Class A source, the table lists 55 dBA for a Class A receiving property during daytime hours (7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends) and 45 dBA during nighttime hours (10 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays, 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. weekends), then 57 dBA for a Class B receiving property and 60 dBA for a Class C receiving property.
Section 9.05.040(B) allows brief excursions above those numbers: five dBA for 15 minutes, ten dBA for five minutes, or fifteen dBA for 1.5 minutes in any one-hour period. Measurement follows § 9.05.030: a Type I or Type II sound level meter taken at the property boundary of the receiving property, and when a property spans more than one EDNA, the most sensitive EDNA controls. Enforcement runs through § 9.05.090: the code enforcement officer or the Shoreline Police Department can issue a civil infraction carrying a $100.00 fine per violation, with each day of a continuing violation counting separately, and a person cited can appeal to the King County District Court, West Division (Shoreline).
Violations & Fines
Exceeding Table 1's limits at SMC § 9.05.040, without qualifying for a permitted deviation, is a civil infraction under § 9.05.090 carrying a $100.00 fine per violation. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, and the city may pursue other remedies on top of the fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the residential noise limit in Shoreline?
Can I exceed Shoreline's noise limits briefly?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shoreline
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle decibel limits.