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Bay County, MI Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Quiet hours in Bay County, MI, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.

Key Facts

Quiet hours
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Prima facie violation
Audible 50 feet from source at night (§62.003(b))
Also barred at night
Yelling/shouting on public streets (§62.003(d))
Also barred at night
Pile drivers/heavy equipment (§62.003(n))
Maximum penalty
$100 fine and/or 90 days jail

Summary

Bay County bars loud radios, musical instruments, and yelling or shouting between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.; music or sound equipment audible fifty feet from its source during those hours is automatically treated as a noise violation.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Bay County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(b)Radios, phonographs, musical instruments, etc. ... The operation of any such set, instrument, phonograph, machine or device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. ... (d)Yelling, shouting, etc. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office, or in any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, or of any persons in the vicinity.

Full Breakdown

The Noise Control Ordinance sets a nighttime standard for household and street noise. 003(b)). Outside those hours, the same device is still unlawful if it disturbs the peace, quiet, and comfort of neighboring residents or plays louder than needed for the voluntary listeners in the room or vehicle where it sits. 003(d)). 003(n)). 001).

Violations & Fines

Any radio, musical instrument, yelling, loading, or heavy-equipment noise audible fifty feet away between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is a misdemeanor: a fine of up to $100, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense (Bay County Code of Ordinances § 62.005).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Bay County's quiet hours?
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. A radio, phonograph, or musical instrument that's plainly audible fifty feet from its source during that window is automatically treated as prima facie evidence of a violation under Bay County Code of Ordinances § 62.003(b).
Is yelling or shouting outside also restricted at night?
Yes. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, or singing on public streets is barred under § 62.003(d), particularly between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or anytime it disturbs the repose of people in a nearby home, hotel, or office.
What's the penalty for violating quiet hours?
It's a misdemeanor under § 62.005: a fine of up to $100, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both, and each day the noise continues can be charged as a separate offense.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bay County

All Bay County rules

How Bay County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Bay County to another location·View the Michigan noise ordinances overview

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