Colorado Springs, CO Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Colorado Springs, CO, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- City Code Sec. 9.8.104
- Residential day limit (7 AM-7 PM)
- 55 dB(A)
- Residential night limit (7 PM-7 AM)
- 50 dB(A)
- Measurement
- A-weighted meter, 25 ft from source/property line (Sec. 9.8.103)
- Plain-audible standard
- Audible without a meter is independently unlawful (Sec. 9.8.101)
- Hardship relief
- Permit from City Manager under Sec. 9.8.109
Summary
Colorado Springs City Code section 9.8.104 sets enforceable decibel limits by zone and time of day. In residential zones the cap is 55 dB(A) from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. and a stricter 50 dB(A) from 7:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. Exceeding the limit for the zone and time is declared excessive, unusually loud, and unlawful.
9.8.104: PERMISSIBLE NOISE LEVELS: A noise measured or registered as provided in section 9.8.103 of this part from any source other than as provided in section 9.8.109 of this part at a level which is equal to or in excess of the dB(A) established for the time period and zones listed in this section, is declared to be excessive and unusually loud and is unlawful. Zone / 7:00 A.M. To Next 7:00 P.M. / 7:00 P.M. To Next 7:00 A.M.: Residential 55 dB(A) / 50 dB(A); Commercial 60 dB(A) / 55 dB(A); Light industrial 70 dB(A) / 65 dB(A); Industrial 80 dB(A) / 75 dB(A). For purposes of this section only, these zones shall be defined as follows: A. Residential: An area of single or multi-family dwellings where businesses may or may not be conducted in the dwellings... E. Adjacent Zones: When a noise source can be measured from more than one zone, the permissible sound level of the more restrictive zone shall govern.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 26-23, passed June 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Colorado Springs regulates nighttime noise primarily through decibel-keyed limits rather than a flat curfew. ); commercial, light industrial, and industrial zones carry higher limits. 103 prescribes how noise is measured: on the A-weighting scale of a standard sound level meter, at least 25 feet from the source or property line, with wind under 5 mph (or 25 mph with a windscreen), accounting for ambient noise. 101 separately makes it unlawful to make, create, or permit an excessive or unusually loud noise 'which can be heard without the use of an electronic measurement device,' so a violation can be proved by ear even without a meter reading. 105 allows a temporary daytime-only increase of 10 dB(A) for up to 15 minutes in any one-hour period. 109.
Violations & Fines
Noise that meets or exceeds the zone/time dB(A) limit is unlawful and prosecutable in Colorado Springs Municipal Court; the police non-emergency line (719-444-7000) takes disturbance reports. General penalties under Title 9 apply, and hardship-permit relief is available only under section 9.8.109.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Colorado Springs have fixed quiet hours?
Can police cite me without a sound meter?
How is the decibel level measured?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colorado Springs
How Colorado Springs compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Colorado Springs to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.