Tonawanda, NY Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime cap
- 55 dB(A), 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
- Residential nighttime cap
- 50 dB(A), 11 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Commercial/industrial receiver cap
- 65 dB(A) / 75 dB(A)
- Measured at
- Property line, 3-6 ft above grade
- Table I amended
- August 25, 2025
- Max penalty
- $250 fine or 15 days jail
Summary
The Town of Tonawanda caps stationary noise sources by receiving land-use category and time of day under Table I at § 133-6. A residential receiver can't be hit with more than 55 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., dropping to 50 dB(A) overnight, measured at the property line between three and six feet off the ground.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or permit to be operated any stationary noise source in such a manner as to create a sound pressure level in dB(A)’s which exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land use category in Table I when measured across the real property boundary at the receiver’s location between three and six feet in height from grade. ... TABLE I: MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE SOUND LEVELS BY RECEIVING LAND USE CATEGORY Sound Source Land Use Category Receiving Land Use Category Time Period Residential Commercial Industrial Residential (First, Second and M-F) 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. 55 65 75 11:00 p.m.to 7:00 a.m. 50 65 75
Full Breakdown
Section 133-6 of Chapter 133, the Noise Local Law, last amended August 25, 2025, bans operating or permitting any stationary noise source to create a sound-pressure level that exceeds the limits set for the receiving land-use category in Table I, measured across the real property boundary at the receiver's location between three and six feet in height from grade. Table I: Maximum Permissible Sound Levels by Receiving Land Use Category sets the cap by both the source's land-use category and the receiver's: a residential source reaching a residential receiver (zoned First, Second or M-F Residential) is capped at 55 dB(A) from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and 50 dB(A) from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; the same residential source reaching a commercial or industrial receiver is allowed up to 65 dB(A) or 75 dB(A) respectively at all hours.
Commercial and industrial sources reaching a residential receiver are capped at 65 dB(A) daytime and 50 dB(A) overnight, while reaching commercial or industrial receivers stays at 65 dB(A) and 75 dB(A) around the clock. Subsection B exempts alarms defined at § 133-5J from these limits entirely. Readings are taken with an ANSI Type II sound-level meter, calibrated at least annually, operated by Building Department or Police Department personnel under § 133-8.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the Table I limit for the receiving land use is a violation of § 133-6, punishable under § 133-9 by a fine of up to $250 or up to 15 days' imprisonment, or both, with each day the excess noise continues charged as a separate offense against the source's operator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the maximum noise level allowed near a home in Tonawanda at night?
Where is the noise level measured?
Do the decibel limits apply to car alarms?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tonawanda
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Erie County handle decibel limits.