Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in St. Joseph County

St. Joseph County, IN Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Flat limit
64 dBA at all times, industrial zone boundary
0-75 Hz band
72 dBA residential, 79 dBA business boundary
Above 4,800 Hz
32 dBA residential, 39 dBA business
Enforced by
County Sheriff's Office and county police
Nighttime rule
Audible at 50 ft, 10 p.m.-7 a.m. = violation
Fine set by
County schedule of fines and fees (§130.99(B))

Summary

Unincorporated St. Joseph County caps industrial-zone noise at 64 dBA at any point on a complaining neighbor's property line, or by the octave-band table set out at Code Section 130.03, which runs stricter along residential district boundaries than along business or commercial district boundaries. The county sheriff's office enforces the broader noise chapter and issues citations payable at the traffic violations bureau.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of St. Joseph County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Sound levels within an industrial zone shall be measured by sound pressure level not to exceed the limits listed below at any point on the boundary of the property of the complainant. The sound pressure level of a sound is measured through an A-weighting filter network. The level read is designated dB(A) or dBA. Sixty-four dBA at all times; or the octave-band breakdown of the dBA limits shall be: Octave-Band Frequency (cycles per second) / Along Residential District Boundaries / Along Business or Commercial District Boundaries: 0 to 75 / 72 / 79; 75 to 150 / 67 / 74; 150 to 300 / 59 / 66; 300 to 600 / 52 / 59; 600 to 1,200 / 46 / 53; 1,200 to 2,400 / 40 / 47; 2,400 to 4,800 / 34 / 41; above 4,800 / 32 / 39.

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 3).

Full Breakdown

St. 01 makes it unlawful to make or continue any "loud, raucous, improper, unreasonable, offensive or unusual noise" that disturbs the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others in the county. window without a building commissioner's permit, and unmuffled engine or exhaust noise. 03 sets a hard ceiling of 64 dBA at all times, measured with an A-weighting filter at any point on the boundary of the complaining property, or the county's octave-band breakdown: at the 0-to-75-cycle band the limit is 72 dBA along residential district boundaries versus 79 dBA along business or commercial district boundaries, tightening to 32 dBA residential and 39 dBA business/commercial above 4,800 cycles per second.

04 exempts agricultural sounds, emergency alert sounds, sanctioned school and park activities, and any activity already covered by a special-use ordinance. 05 lets the sheriff's office issue special-exception permits for holidays, concerts, parades and other events, or for hardship cases, with council- and commissioner-approved fees. 99(B).

Violations & Fines

A first citation for violating Sections 130.01 through 130.06, including the industrial dBA limits, carries a fine set in the county's schedule of fines and fees under Section 130.99(B); if no specific penalty applies instead, the general penalty in Section 10.99 governs, and each day a violation continues can count as a separate offense under that section. The sheriff or county police issue the citation, and a person may resolve it by paying the fine at the traffic violations bureau and waiving a court appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum noise level allowed at an industrial property line in St. Joseph County?
County Code Section 130.03 caps sound at 64 dBA at all times measured at any point on the boundary of a complaining neighbor's property, or the octave-band table if it applies, whichever the sheriff's office uses to evaluate a complaint. Limits are stricter along residential district boundaries, starting at 72 dBA in the lowest frequency band, than along business or commercial boundaries, which allow up to 79 dBA in that same band.
Does the noise ordinance apply to loud stereos or parties late at night?
Yes. Section 130.02 makes it a violation to play a radio, phonograph or other sound device between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. loud enough to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the building, structure or vehicle where it is playing; that alone is treated as prima facie evidence of a violation, separate from the industrial dBA table in Section 130.03.
What happens if I get cited for a noise violation?
You can pay the fine set by the county's schedule of fines and fees at the traffic violations bureau and waive a court appearance under Section 130.06. If you contest it, the case goes to court, and the sheriff or county police officer who issued the citation testifies to what they measured or heard at the property line.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Joseph County

Construction HoursSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsVehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsHeavy RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsLight RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: BeekeepingSome Restrictions

All St. Joseph County rules

Compare St. Joseph County to another location·View the Indiana noise ordinances overview

Get notified when Decibel Limits in St. Joseph County, IN changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.