Miami-Dade County, FL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Decibel limit
- 70 dBA or 80 dBC at measurement point
- Measurement point
- 200 feet out, or any point on adjacent residential lot
- Applies to
- Rural event venues, farm wineries, breweries, agritourism uses
- Violation threshold
- 1 continuous minute of exceedance in 5-minute span
- Repeat-violator penalty
- CU revocation plus $25,000 bond after 3 violations/year
- Zone
- AU Agricultural District, unincorporated Miami-Dade
Summary
Miami-Dade County caps sound from rural event venues, farm wineries, breweries and distilleries, and other agritourism uses in the AU Agricultural District at 70 dBA or 80 dBC, measured from 200 feet off the property line or from any point on an adjoining residential lot. The limit applies on top of the countywide noise ordinance and is enforced with calibrated sound meters.
Sound emanating from the property with the agritourism use shall not exceed 70 dBA or 80 dBC, when measured: i.from any point at least 200 feet from any exterior property line of the property with the agritourism use; or ii.from the property line of any abutting or adjacent property with a residential use, or from any other point on such abutting or adjacent property.2.Measurement shall be performed by a sound level meter that has been calibrated using a sound level meter calibrator at the measurement site prior to measurement.3.A violation of this requirement shall be presumed to occur if sound exceeds the foregoing limitations for a continuous duration of one minute within any 5-minute period. Each minute of violation and each side of the property from which a violation is measured shall constitute a separate offense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
1. The cap applies to rural event venues permitted under subsection (8), farm-related wineries, breweries and distilleries permitted under subsection (26), and ancillary agritourism uses such as farm tours, U-Pick operations and small-scale outdoor amusements permitted under subsection (27)(c)2 and 3. Sound leaving the property cannot exceed 70 dBA or 80 dBC, the C-weighted scale, which is more sensitive to bass and other low-frequency sound. The county measures compliance from two vantage points: at least 200 feet from the property's own boundary, or anywhere on an abutting or adjacent residential lot, whichever the inspector chooses.
Inspectors use a calibrated sound level meter that meets ANSI or IEC Type 1 or Type 2 standards, checked against a field calibrator at the measurement site before each reading. A violation is presumed once sound exceeds the limit for a continuous minute within any five-minute window, and the code treats every minute of exceedance, and every side of the property where it is measured, as a separate offense. 07, Florida Statutes.
Violations & Fines
A property with three or more noise violations on different days within 12 months loses eligibility for a new or renewed Certificate of Use for the agritourism activity, and the Director can revoke an existing one, unless all outstanding violations and liens are cleared and a $25,000 bond is posted with the Department. Interfering with an inspector investigating a noise complaint or enforcing the limit is itself a separate violation of this section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 70 dBA limit apply to my backyard party?
Where does the county measure the sound from?
What happens after repeated violations?
Is there a quiet curfew on top of the decibel cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami-Dade County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami-Dade County to another location·View the Florida noise ordinances overview
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