Bexar County Quiet Hours Rules (2026) — What You Need to Know
Few RestrictionsKey Facts
- County Noise Ordinance
- None — state law applies
- Decibel Presumption
- 85 dB after notice from peace officer
- Governing Law
- Texas Penal Code § 42.01
- Violation Class
- Class C misdemeanor
- Maximum Fine
- Up to $500
The Short Version
Unincorporated Bexar County does not have a county-level noise ordinance. Texas counties lack general police power to regulate noise, so residents in unincorporated areas fall back on Texas Penal Code Section 42.01, which classifies intentional or knowing unreasonable noise near a private residence as disorderly conduct. Noise is presumed unreasonable if it exceeds 85 decibels after the person has received notice from a peace officer or magistrate.
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Bexar County has no county-level noise ordinance. Under Texas law, counties lack general police power and may exercise only those powers expressly conferred by the Texas Constitution and Legislature. The Legislature has not granted counties the authority to regulate noise in unincorporated areas, meaning there are no designated quiet hours, no residential decibel limits, and no county noise enforcement officers.
The only legal recourse for noise complaints in unincorporated Bexar County is Texas Penal Code Section 42.01 — Disorderly Conduct. Under this statute, a person commits an offense if they intentionally or knowingly make unreasonable noise in or near a private residence that they have no right to occupy. The law creates a presumption that noise is unreasonable if it exceeds 85 decibels after the person making the noise has received notice from a magistrate or peace officer that the noise constitutes a public nuisance.
This is a significantly higher bar than what residents within San Antonio city limits face. San Antonio enforces residential decibel limits of 63 dB during the day and 56 dB at night, with dedicated noise enforcement teams. In contrast, unincorporated Bexar County residents must rely on the Bexar County Sheriff's Office to respond to noise complaints under the state disorderly conduct statute, which requires proof of intentional or knowing conduct and is more difficult to enforce.
What Happens If You Violate This?
A violation of Texas Penal Code Section 42.01 for unreasonable noise is a Class C misdemeanor, carrying a maximum fine of $500 and no jail time. Enforcement requires that the Bexar County Sheriff's Office respond to the complaint and that the person making the noise has either already been warned or that the noise clearly meets the statutory standard of being intentional or knowing. Repeated or egregious offenses can be addressed through nuisance complaints filed in county court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unincorporated Bexar County have quiet hours?
What can I do about a noisy neighbor in unincorporated Bexar County?
Why doesn't Bexar County have its own noise ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Related Ordinances in Bexar County
How does Bexar County compare?
See how Bexar County's quiet hours rules stack up against other locations.