Galveston County, TX Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Galveston County, TX, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- County noise rule
- None (TX county can't zone)
- Galveston day cap
- 75 dB(A), 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Galveston night cap
- 70 dB(A), 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Measurement point
- Receiving property/curb line
- State backstop
- TX Penal Code 42.01(a)(5)
Summary
Galveston County has no county noise ordinance and cannot zone unincorporated areas. Inside a city the city code governs: Galveston caps sound at 75 dB(A) daytime (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) and 70 dB(A) nighttime (10 p.m.-7 a.m.) at the receiving property line.
Daytime hours—(7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.): dB(A) shall be seventy-five (75). Nighttime hours—(10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.): dB(A) shall be seventy (70).
Full Breakdown
Texas counties have no general ordinance-making power over noise, so unincorporated Galveston County (Bolivar Peninsula, Bacliff, San Leon) has no local quiet-hours rule; the statewide backstop is Texas Penal Code 42.01(a)(5) disorderly conduct. Cities set their own limits. Galveston Code Sec. 24-2 sets 75 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 70 dB(A) from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., measured at the curb or property line closest to the source. League City (Sec. 42-32) defines nighttime as 7:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Brief spikes under two seconds are excluded in Galveston.
Violations & Fines
Galveston noise violations are Class C misdemeanors after a peace-officer warning. League City fines run $100-$1,000 (first) and $200-$2,000 (repeat within 12 months); each day is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Galveston County have quiet hours?
Where is my noise measured in Galveston?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Galveston County
How Galveston County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Galveston County to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
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