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Shreveport, LA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 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.

View official code

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?
Residential property is capped at 50 dBA measured at the receiving property line between 10:01 p.m. and 6:59 a.m. under Code of Ordinances § 58-28(d)(1)(b). During daytime hours, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., the limit rises to 55 dBA. A noise-sensitive receiver such as a hospital or school next door gets a tighter 45 dBA nighttime standard.
Do downtown bars get to be louder than other businesses?
Yes. A properly permitted restaurant, bar or club, whether inside the Downtown Entertainment District or anywhere else in the city, may run at 75 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 12:59 a.m. and 70 dBA from 1:00 a.m. to 6:59 a.m. under § 58-28(d)(5)-(6), well above the flat 60 dBA commercial ceiling that applies without a permit.
Who measures noise complaints in Shreveport?
The noise enforcement officer (NEO), a Shreveport Police Department employee designated by the chief of police under § 58-27(a), handles enforcement and may deputize additional noise enforcement officers. Measurements follow the testing methods set out in chapter 78, article XII, referenced at § 58-34, and the NEO can approve alternative methods when conditions call for it.
Is there a general rule beyond the flat dBA numbers?
Yes. Section 58-28(b) separately bars any source that exceeds the background sound level by more than five dBA at a regulated receiver, whichever standard, background-plus-five or the flat property-type ceiling, is greater. That catches unusually loud sources in an already-loud area even if they stay under the flat cap.

Sources & Official References

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