Cape Coral, FL Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Cape Coral Code of Ordinances § 12-22(e)(4)(a), part of the "Cape Coral Noise Control Ordinance" enacted by Ord. 29-19 in 2019 and amended by Ord. 26-24 in 2024, gives the city a distance-based nighttime curfew that does not require a decibel meter. , if a sound is "plainly audible" a minimum of 100 feet from the property line where it originates, and is heard inside a fully enclosed structure or residence on the receiving property, that fact alone constitutes prima facie evidence the sound is "unreasonably loud and raucous" and therefore unlawful under § 12-22(e).

"Plainly audible" is defined in § 12-22(c) as any sound a reasonable person can clearly hear with unaided ordinary hearing, without needing to make out specific words, lyrics, or artist; a rhythmic bass reverberation alone satisfies the standard. Outside these curfew hours, or where the 100-foot test isn't met, an officer can still cite unreasonably excessive noise under § 12-22(e)(2) by weighing factors like vibration felt inside a neighboring structure, duration, and recurrence, or by acting on a sworn complaint under § 12-22(e)(3). The curfew provision does not apply inside the designated Entertainment Area near Del Prado Boulevard, which is governed separately by the decibel caps in § 12-22(d).