Auburn, AL Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Unlike many cities, Auburn does not codify numeric quiet hours (such as 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.) or a decibel ceiling in its own Code of Ordinances. According to the Auburn Police Department's own explanation of how it handles noise, the city relies on Alabama's state disorderly-conduct law rather than a local decibel ordinance. Under Ala. Code Section 13A-11-7(a)(2), a person commits disorderly conduct if, with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating that risk, they 'make unreasonable noise.' Disorderly conduct is a Class C misdemeanor under subsection (b). Because the standard is 'unreasonable' rather than tied to a clock or meter, officers weigh the time of day, the type of sound, the neighborhood, and how it affects nearby residents. Loud parties, amplified music, and yelling that disturbs neighbors late at night are the classic triggers in this Auburn University college town. The city reported 5,492 noise complaints between 2017 and 2021, many involving house parties and businesses hosting bands. Separate, specific time limits do exist for construction work (Code Sec. 5-2) and habitually barking dogs (Code Sec. 4-19).