Taylor, MI Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Taylor City Code section 20-54(b)(13) bars anyone from selling, leasing or using powered equipment or hand tools that exceed listed noise limits at a distance of 50 feet, or from the source to the property line of residential or commercial property, during the permitted 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. window; use is prohibited entirely between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. except for public improvement and utility work. The section sets four equipment categories, each with its own manufacture-date decibel schedule. Category (a), construction and industrial machinery such as crawler-tractors, dozers, rotary drills, loaders, power shovels, cranes, motor graders, paving machines, compressors and pneumatic equipment (excluding pile drivers, which fall under clause (12) instead), is capped at 94 dB(A) for equipment manufactured after January 1, 1972, stepping down to 88 dB(A) after 1973, 86 dB(A) after 1975 and 80 dB(A) after 1980.

Category (b) covers agricultural tractors and equipment at a similar declining scale, category (c) covers lighter equipment like chainsaws and pavement breakers used infrequently in residential areas, and category (d) covers repetitive-use residential equipment such as lawn mowers and snow removal equipment, which is held to the tightest limits, down to 65 dB(A) for units made after 1978. Testing follows section 20-55(c), using a type 2 or higher sound meter under Society of Automotive Engineers and ANSI standards, measured from the property line or 50 feet from the equipment.