Shreveport, LA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 55 dBA day, 50 dBA night
- Commercial limit
- 60 dBA day and night
- Industrial limit
- 70 dBA day and night
- Noise-sensitive receiver
- 50 dBA day, 45 dBA night
- DED / permitted bar limit
- 75 dBA to 12:59 a.m., 70 dBA after
- Enforcing officer
- Police-designated Noise Enforcement Officer
Summary
Shreveport's noise ordinance sets hard decibel ceilings measured at the receiving property line: 55 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime for residential property, 60 dBA around the clock for commercial property, 70 dBA around the clock for industrial property, and a stricter 50/45 dBA standard for noise-sensitive receivers such as schools, hospitals and churches, under Code of Ordinances § 58-28(d).
The sound level shall be measured at or within the receiving property line.(1)Residential property.a.55 dBA during daytime hours.b.50 dBA during nighttime hours.(2)Commercial property.a.60 dBA during daytime hours.b.60 dBA during nighttime hours.(3)Noise sensitive receiver.a.50 dBA during daytime hours.b.45 dBA during nighttime hours.(4)Industrial property.a.70 dBA during daytime hours.b.70 dBA during nighttime hours.(5)For properly permitted establishments located in the Downtown Entertainment District...the following decibel limits...shall apply...a.7:00 a.m.—12:59 a.m.: 75 dBA.b.1:00 a.m.—6:59 a.m.: 70 dBA.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 Update 1 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
the following day, both defined in § 58-26. Beyond the flat property-type ceilings, § 58-28(b) bars any source of sound that exceeds the background sound level by more than five dBA at a regulated receiver, whichever standard is greater, measured under § 58-34's test procedures in chapter 78, article XII. The property-line rule works both ways under § 58-28(d): it is measured at or within the receiving property line, not at the source. Two carve-outs raise the ceiling substantially. m. Restaurants, bars and clubs permitted anywhere else in the city get the identical 75/70 dBA schedule under § 58-28(d)(6), so a permitted bar outside downtown is not held to the flat commercial 60 dBA cap.
The ordinance exempts government employees on duty, permitted parades and street events, stadium and ballpark crowds during a game, emergency vehicles, and vehicles using state-mandated audible warning devices from these ceilings entirely under § 58-28(c). Enforcement runs through the noise enforcement officer (NEO), a Shreveport Police Department employee designated by the chief of police under § 58-27(a), who may issue summonses directly.
Violations & Fines
A first conviction under this division carries a fine up to $500.00, up to 30 days in jail, or both. A second conviction raises exposure to a fine up to $750.00 and up to 60 days. A third conviction carries a fine up to $1,000.00 and up to 90 days, under § 58-35. The city may also pursue civil remedies, including injunctive relief, independent of any criminal citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What decibel level is allowed next to my house at night in Shreveport?
Do downtown bars get to be louder than other businesses?
Who measures noise complaints in Shreveport?
Is there a general rule beyond the flat dBA numbers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shreveport
Compare Shreveport to another location·View the Louisiana noise ordinances overview
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