Woodbury, MN Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 13-1(c)(2)a
- Nighttime threshold
- Plainly audible 50 feet, 10 p.m.-6 a.m.
- Daytime threshold
- Plainly audible 100 feet, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Standard type
- Audibility-distance presumption, not a decibel meter
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, fine up to $700, up to 90 days
Summary
Woodbury has no decibel-meter standard; instead, City Code § 13-1(c)(2)a presumes a noise violation whenever electronic sound or audio equipment is plainly audible 50 feet away between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., or 100 feet away between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
a.It shall be presumed that a violation of this section has occurred when any electronic sound system or audio equipment is operated in a manner in which it is plainly audible, at a distance of 50 feet or more, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. It shall be presumed that a violation of this section has occurred when any electronic sound or audio equipment is operated in a manner in which it is plainly audible, at a distance of 100 feet or more, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 48).
Full Breakdown
Rather than setting a decibel-meter threshold, Woodbury's noise ordinance uses a distance-based presumption to prove when amplified sound crosses the line. , while daytime sound gets twice that buffer, 100 feet, before the same presumption applies. Because this is a presumption rather than an exclusive test, officers are not required to measure distance precisely, and the underlying general prohibition in (b) still allows a citation for sound that disturbs a reasonable person even inside those distances. The presumption applies to the broad category of equipment named in (c)(2): CD and cassette players, AM-FM and CB radios, paging systems, musical instruments and phonographs, whether operated in a home, business, park or vehicle, and it is the mechanism Woodbury police use in place of a sound-level meter reading when documenting a complaint.
Violations & Fines
A presumed violation of the § 13-1(c)(2)a distance standard is prosecuted under the same misdemeanor penalty as the rest of § 13-1: a fine of up to $700.00, up to 90 days in jail, or both, per § 13-1(d). Meeting the distance threshold shifts the burden to the operator to rebut the presumption of a violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Woodbury measure noise in decibels?
Why is the nighttime distance shorter than daytime?
Can I still be cited if sound doesn't carry the full distance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Woodbury
Compare Woodbury to another location·View the Minnesota noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.