Quiet hours in Boston, MA — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Boston Municipal Code 16-26 sets clear decibel limits enforced by police with sound level meters. Nighttime threshold of 50 dB is among the strictest in Massachusetts.
BMC 16-26 defines unreasonable noise as exceeding 50 dB between 11 PM and 7 AM or 70 dB at all other hours, measured at the nearest residential lot line using ANSI-calibrated meters. Car alarms audible at 200 feet that run beyond five minutes are unlawful. Amplified sound devices in vehicles on public ways are prohibited. MassDEP 310 CMR 7.10 provides additional enforcement when sound exceeds ambient by 10+ dB at the property line.
First offense $50 fine. Third violation within 12 months $150. Each subsequent violation $300. Police verify with sound meter before citing.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Suffolk County.
See how other cities in Suffolk County handle quiet hours.
See how Boston's quiet hours rules stack up against other locations.
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