Albuquerque, NM Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Albuquerque, NM, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Albuquerque Code section 9-9-4 (Noise Control Ordinance)
- Daytime
- 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (55 dB(A) residential)
- Nighttime
- 10:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. (50 dB(A) residential)
- Basis
- Limits set by zoning classification, not actual use
- First-offense fine
- $250 civil fine (section 9-9-11)
Summary
Albuquerque has no blanket curfew but enforces zoning-based decibel limits. Under Noise Control Ordinance section 9-9-4, residential receptor properties may not be exposed to sound exceeding 55 dB(A) during the daytime (7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.) or 50 dB(A) during the nighttime (10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.).
DAYTIME. From 7:00 a.m. (0700 hours) to 10:00 p.m. (2200 hours). NIGHTTIME. From 10:00 p.m. (2200 hours) to 7:00 a.m. (0700 hours). ... (A) Except as otherwise provided in this article, no person shall make or continue, cause to be made or continued, or allow to be made or continued, any sound that persistently or continuously results in an exceedance of the following sound level limits using an approved sound-level meter measuring decibels on the A-Weighted scale. [Residential receptor: 55 dB(A) Daytime / 50 dB(A) Nighttime]
Full Breakdown
Albuquerque regulates nighttime noise through numeric decibel limits tied to zoning rather than a flat quiet-hours curfew. (section 9-9-2). Section 9-9-4(A) prohibits any person from making, causing, or allowing sound that 'persistently or continuously' exceeds the Table 1 A-weighted limits at the receptor premises. For a residential receptor, that ceiling is 55 dB(A) daytime and 50 dB(A) nighttime when the source is also residential; the limits rise to 65/60 dB(A) where the receptor is in a commercial zone and 75/70 dB(A) in an industrial/manufacturing zone.
'Persistently or continuously' means a 10-minute period during which the sound exceeds the limit in each of the ten one-minute intervals (section 9-9-2). Limits are keyed to the zoning classification of the property, not its actual use. Separately, Albuquerque Code section 12-2-4 ('Unreasonable noise') and the cross-referenced animal-noise rule remain in force alongside Article 9.
Violations & Fines
Each act is a public nuisance and a separate civil violation under section 9-9-11: a civil fine of $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second, and $1,000 for the third and subsequent offenses within any 36-consecutive-month period; each calendar day is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Albuquerque have a hard noise curfew at night?
How loud is 50 dB(A)?
How do I report a late-night noise problem?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albuquerque
How Albuquerque compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Albuquerque to another location·View the New Mexico noise ordinances overview
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