Wilmington, DE Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Industrial district limit
- 85 dBA, 24-hour equivalent
- Business district limit
- 75 dBA day, 65 dBA night
- Measured at
- Boundary of receiving property
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Licenses and Inspections
- First-offense fine
- $250 to $1,000
Summary
Wilmington caps continuous industrial-district noise at 85 dBA measured at the receiving property's boundary, while business districts are held to a lower 65-75 dBA depending on time of day.
No persons shall operate or cause to be operated any stationary source of sound in such a manner as to create a 24-hour equivalent A-weighted sound level which exceeds the leq limits set forth for the receiving land use category below and measured at the point of complaint origination within the property boundary of the receiving land use:a.Residence districts: 65 dBA between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., 55 dBA between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.b.Business districts: 75 dBA between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., 65 dBA between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.c.Industrial districts: 85 dBA.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Wilmington's noise ordinance (City Code § 11-65) sets 24-hour equivalent A-weighted sound level limits by zoning district, measured at the property boundary of the receiving land use. Industrial districts (M-1, M-2, W-1) are capped at a flat 85 dBA at all hours, day or night. Business districts (C-1 through C-6, W-2, W-3) are held to 75 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 65 dBA overnight. The Department of Licenses and Inspections enforces the section with ANSI-calibrated sound level meters, and a source can also be cited for exceeding the ambient noise level by 10 dBA at the point of complaint.
Violations & Fines
First offense $250-$1,000; second offense $500-$2,500; third and later offenses $1,000-$5,000 (§ 11-59). Each day of continued violation is a separate offense, enforced by Licenses and Inspections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an industrial operator get a waiver to run louder temporarily?
Does the 85 dBA industrial limit drop at night like the business-district limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wilmington
Compare Wilmington to another location·View the Delaware noise ordinances overview
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