Quiet hours in Colonie, NY — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
The Town of Colonie codifies fixed nighttime quiet hours in Chapter 135 (Noise Control) of the Town Code, adopted by the Town Board on August 28, 2003. Sound measured at the real property line cannot exceed 65 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, or between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Industrial property sits at 75 dBA during the nighttime window.
Colonie is a Town in Albany County governed by New York Town Law, not by a city or village charter. Its general noise regulation lives in Chapter 135 (Noise Control) of the Town Code, adopted by Local Law in 2003 and amended several times since. The operative quantitative test is at Section 135-4 (Prohibited acts): no person shall cause noise that, measured by a sound level meter at the real property line of the parcel or dwelling unit from which it emanates, exceeds 65 dBA for residential or commercial property, or 75 dBA for industrial property, during the protected nighttime window. The window is 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday nights and 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, recognizing the later weekend bedtime. A separate prong reaches any sound that 'annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, safety or welfare of a reasonable person of normal sensibilities' at any hour, supplying a qualitative backstop where no meter reading is available. Refuse collection from residential property by collection vehicles is independently barred between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. except during storm-related emergencies. Enforcement is by the Colonie Police Department (518-783-2744). The state-law backstop is N.Y. Penal Law Section 240.20(2) (disorderly conduct - unreasonable noise).
Penalties are tiered under Chapter 135 Section 135-7. A first conviction is a $50 to $250 fine or up to 7 days imprisonment. A second conviction (within an unspecified look-back) is $100 to $250 or up to 10 days. A third or subsequent conviction carries a minimum $250 fine and up to 15 days imprisonment. Each day a violation continues may be charged as a separate offense. A parallel charge under N.Y. Penal Law Section 240.20 (disorderly conduct - violation) adds a $250 fine plus up to 15 days.
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