Hennepin County, MN Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Hennepin County, MN, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- County Ordinance
- None - county fully incorporated
- Minneapolis Code
- Title 15, Chapter 389
- Noisy Assembly Hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Construction Hours (Mpls)
- 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays
- State Standard
- Minn. Rules 7030.0040
- Residential Night Limit
- 50 L50 / 55 L10 dB(A)
- Report Number (Mpls)
- 311 / 612-673-3000
Summary
Hennepin County is fully incorporated - all 45 cities including Minneapolis enforce their own noise ordinances and the county does not have its own countywide noise rules. Inside Minneapolis, Code of Ordinances Title 15, Chapter 389 governs noise. Section 389.65 makes a 'noisy assembly' between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in residential areas a violation. State authority comes from Minn. Rules 7030.0040, which sets a residential (NAC-1) limit of 60 dB(A) L10 daytime and 55 dB(A) L10 nighttime (10 p.m.-7 a.m.). Report Minneapolis noise problems to 311 (612-673-3000).
"A-weighted" means a specific weighting of the sound pressure level for the purpose of determining the human response to sound. The specific weighting characteristics and tolerances are those given in American National Standards Institute S1.4-1983, section 5.1.
§
Subp. 3.
Daytime.
"Daytime" means those hours from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
§
Subp. 4.
dB(A).
"dB(A)" means a unit of sound level expressed in decibels (dB) and A-weighted.
§
Subp. 5.
Decibel.
"Decibel" means a unit of sound pressure level, abbreviated as dB.
§
Subp. 6.
Impulsive noise.
"Impulsive noise" means either a single sound pressure peak (with either a rise time less than 200 milliseconds or total duration less than 200 milliseconds) or multiple sound pressure peaks (with either rise times less than 200 mil
Full Breakdown
Hennepin County does not maintain a separate countywide noise ordinance because every parcel of the county lies within an incorporated city - Minneapolis, Bloomington, Plymouth, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Brooklyn Park, and 39 others. Each city sets its own noise rule. In Minneapolis, the controlling code is Title 15 (Offenses - Miscellaneous), Chapter 389. that would cause significant discomfort to a reasonable person. it may not exceed ambient by more than 5 dB(A). , and prohibits use on Saturdays, Sundays, and state and federal holidays without a special permit; sound may not exceed 90 dB(A) at 50 feet.
Outdoor power tools (mowers, leaf blowers, snowblowers, hedge clippers, power saws) are exempt from the dB(A)-above-ambient limit but remain subject to the noisy-assembly rule and disturbing-the-peace statutes. Statewide, Minn. ). MPCA enforces 7030 against industrial and transportation sources; cities enforce their own ordinances against neighborhood and amplified-music complaints.
Violations & Fines
Under Minneapolis Code 389.120, a violation of Chapter 389 is a misdemeanor. Officers typically issue a verbal cease-and-desist, except after 10:00 p.m. when a citation may be issued without a prior warning. Each day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense. Misdemeanor penalties under Minneapolis Code Section 1.30 are up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. Other Hennepin County cities adopt similar misdemeanor penalty structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do quiet hours start in Hennepin County?
Who enforces noise complaints in Hennepin County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hennepin County
How Hennepin County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Hennepin County to another location·View the Minnesota noise ordinances overview
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