Little Elm, TX Noise Ordinances: Industrial Noise (2026)

Little Elm addresses industrial noise under Sec. 70-55 of the Code of Ordinances, which applies the general prohibition against unreasonably loud or disturbing noise to all areas of the town. In nonresidential districts, the standard is based on whether the noise unreasonably disturbs neighboring persons of ordinary sensibilities, without specific time-of-day cutoffs. However, industrial facilities located within 500 feet of a residential district or quiet zone are subject to the same residential-area time restrictions: equipment and operations must cease between 8 PM and 7 AM. The ordinance requires that all motor-driven equipment discharge exhaust through mufflers preventing loud or unusual noise. Little Elm's zoning ordinance under Chapter 106 governs the placement of industrial uses and establishes buffer requirements between industrial and residential zones. The town has adopted the 2018 International Fire Code under Ordinance 1494, which includes operational requirements for industrial facilities. There are no specific decibel thresholds in the Little Elm code for industrial operations; enforcement relies on the reasonable-person nuisance standard.