Wayne County, MI Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Decibel limit
- 60 dB at property line
- Quiet hours (Sun-Thu)
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Quiet hours (Fri-Sat)
- 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- First offense fine
- $25 civil penalty
- Local opt-out
- Charter cities/townships may opt out
Summary
Wayne County caps nighttime noise at 60 decibels measured at the property line, or 100 feet if unmeasured, under the countywide Nuisance Noise Ordinance enforced with escalating civil penalties.
During these periods, a loud and unreasonable sound is one which is clearly discernible at a distance of 100 feet from the property line of the property, or from the vehicle, from which the sound is emanating, or which is in excess of 60 decibels at the edge of that property line or from immediately outside the vehicle, as such sound would be measured on a sound measuring instrument which meets American National Standard Institute Standard Sl.4-1971 (or a more recent revision thereof) for Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meters.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31).
Full Breakdown
Wayne County's Nuisance Noise Ordinance (Ch. 170, adopted by Ord. No. 2006-379) bars sound audible off the property, or from a vehicle, produced by amplified instruments, radios, or speakers between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and between 12:01 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. A violation is a sound clearly discernible 100 feet from the property line, or one exceeding 60 decibels at the property line, measured with an ANSI Sl.4-1971 meter or a trained officer's ear. Charter cities and townships may opt out of this chapter by their own ordinance under Sec. 170-6.
Violations & Fines
First offense: $25 civil fine if corrected on warning. Second offense within a month: $100. Third within a year: $200. Fourth within a year: misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine or 90 days jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wayne County's 60-decibel noise limit apply inside cities like Detroit?
What happens on a first noise violation in Wayne County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wayne County
Compare Wayne County to another location·View the Michigan noise ordinances overview
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