Waukegan, IL Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Sec. 11-32 of the Waukegan City Code sets the numeric ceiling for any continuous source of sound, covering activities like production, processing, cleaning, servicing, testing, operating, or repairing vehicles, materials, goods, products, or devices. ; commercial districts run 60 dBA by day and 55 dBA at night; industrial districts get the highest allowance, 80 dBA by day and 75 dBA at night. The section requires sound to be measured at the property line or the boundary of the public way, at least four feet above the surrounding surface, using a sound level meter on the standard 'A' weighting network, and any reading over the district's limit is prima facie evidence that the sound is unnecessary noise.

When a noise source can be measured in more than one district at once, subsection (b) applies the more restrictive district's limit rather than splitting the difference, and subsection (c) folds agricultural land zoned under the city's zoning ordinance into the commercial limit rather than giving it its own category. Subsection (d) carves out several categories entirely: motor vehicles on public rights-of-way, church or school bells and chimes, truck loading at a business during operating hours, and both domestic and commercial power equipment. Chapter 11's own penalty section, Sec. 00 for a first offense, with each day of continued excess sound a separate offense.