Amarillo, TX Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Amarillo, TX, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- City Ordinance
- None: no local noise ordinance
- State Standard
- 85 dBA after police warning
- Law
- Texas Penal Code §42.01
- Penalty
- Class C misdemeanor, up to $500 fine
Summary
Amarillo does not have a city noise ordinance. The city relies on the Texas Penal Code, which treats unreasonable noise as disorderly conduct. Noise is presumed unreasonable if it exceeds 85 decibels after a peace officer has given notice that the noise is a public nuisance.
Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly:(1) uses abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language in a public place, and the language by its very utterance tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace;(2) makes an offensive gesture or display in a public place, and the gesture or display tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace;(3) creates, by chemical means, a noxious and unreasonable odor in a public place;(4) abuses or threatens a person in a public place in an obviously offensive manner;(5) makes unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range, as defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code, or in or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy;(6) fights with another in
Full Breakdown
Unlike many Texas cities, Amarillo has no local noise ordinance regulating quiet hours, decibel limits, or specific time-based noise restrictions. Instead, the city relies on the Texas Penal Code Section 42.01 (Disorderly Conduct), which makes it an offense to make unreasonable noise in a public place or near a private residence. Under state law, noise is presumed unreasonable if it exceeds 85 decibels after the person has been warned by a peace officer. The Amarillo Police Department responds to noise complaints on a case-by-case basis.
Violations & Fines
Excessive noise may be treated as disorderly conduct under Texas Penal Code §42.01, a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Amarillo have quiet hours?
How do I report a noise complaint in Amarillo?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Amarillo
How Amarillo compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Amarillo to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
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