Jackson County, MO Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- Jackson County UDC § 24004.12(f)
- Applies to
- HI and LI zoned uses
- Standard
- Not injurious to adjacent premises
- Geographic scope
- Unincorporated county only
- Excludes
- Kansas City and other cities
Summary
In unincorporated Jackson County, industrial-zoned uses must operate so noise (and vibration, radiation, glare) from the site is not injurious to adjacent premises, under the UDC's industrial performance standards.
All industrial uses shall be so operated as to comply with the performance standards described in this section below, and, in addition to the performance standards hereinafter specified, all uses shall be so constructed, maintained, and operated as not to be injurious to the use and occupation of the adjacent premises by reason of the emission or creation of noise, vibration, radiation, fire, and explosive hazard or glare. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter, change, modify or abrogate any authority granted exclusively to any state agency.
2. Outdoor storage areas shall be screened with a solid, opaque six foot tall fence.
3. Smoke, Dust, Particulate Matter, Toxic or Noxious Waste Materials. All uses shall be so operated as to comply with standards of performance or their equivalent which have been or which may be adopted or amended from time to time by the State of Missouri.
4. Radiation Hazards. All uses shall be so operated as to comply with standards of performance or their equivalent which have been or which may be adopted or amended from time to time by the State of Missouri.
5. Vibrations. No use shall be operated so as to produce ground vibration, noticeable without instruments, at the lot line of the premises on which the
Full Breakdown
Jackson County's Unified Development Code requires that all industrial uses in the Heavy Industrial (HI) and Light Industrial (LI) districts be constructed, maintained, and operated so as not to be injurious to the use and occupation of adjacent premises by reason of noise, vibration, radiation, fire and explosive hazard, or glare (UDC § 24004.12(f)(1)). Light Industrial uses are separately required to comply with these same HI performance standards (§ 24004.11). This is a zoning-code nuisance-type standard enforced through the County's Planning & Zoning/code enforcement process, not a decibel table. It applies only to unincorporated Jackson County. Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs, Raytown and Grandview each administer their own zoning and noise rules and are not covered by this UDC section.
Violations & Fines
Zoning enforcement action for a non-conforming industrial use; violations are addressed through the county's zoning compliance/code enforcement process, which can require abatement of the offending condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Kansas City?
Is there a decibel limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jackson County
Compare Jackson County to another location·View the Missouri noise ordinances overview
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