Sterling Heights, MI Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime limit
- 60 dB(A) equivalent
- Nighttime limit
- 55 dB(A) equivalent
- Applies to
- O-R Office Research District
- Absolute ceiling
- 60 dB(A), no exceptions
Summary
In Sterling Heights, Michigan's O-R Office Research District, zoning rules cap noise at 60 decibels in the daytime and 55 decibels at night at any property line touching a residential, office or commercial zone.
Noise. Noise shall not exceed 60 decibels (db(A)) equivalent daytime and 55 decibels (db(A)) equivalent nighttime, as measured at any site line which is adjacent to any residential, office or commercial zone. In no case shall the maximum noise level exceed 60 db(A).
2. Odors. Odors from any use shall not be discernible at the property line to a greater degree than odors from plants for the manufacture of electronic equipment. The values given in table III (Odor Thresholds) in the latest revision of
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-46: Local legislation current through Ord. 509, passed 5-19-26).
Full Breakdown
Section 17.06 of the Sterling Heights Zoning Ordinance sets numeric performance standards for the O-R Office Research District. Noise measured at any site line adjacent to a residential, office or commercial zone may not exceed 60 decibels (dB(A)) as a daytime equivalent or 55 decibels as a nighttime equivalent, and under no circumstances may the level exceed 60 dB(A) at all. A use that exceeds these limits is in violation of the zoning ordinance and subject to penalty, regardless of scheduling adjustments made to comply.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding 60 dB(A) daytime or 55 dB(A) nighttime at a property line adjacent to residential, office or commercial land is a zoning violation subject to penalties under the ordinance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the nighttime noise limit for O-R zoned property in Sterling Heights?
Does the daytime noise limit ever go above 60 decibels?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sterling Heights
Compare Sterling Heights to another location·View the Michigan noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle decibel limits.