Cranston, RI Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Cranston, RI, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Residential nighttime limit
- 50 dB(A) at property line
- Nighttime hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Daytime residential limit
- 55 dB(A), 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Enforcement
- Cranston Police Department
- Repeat-offense fine
- up to $500 per offense
Summary
Cranston lowers its citywide noise limit at night: residential sound can't exceed 50 dB(A) at the property line between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., five decibels stricter than the daytime cap, under the city's noise ordinance.
It shall be unlawful for any person to emit or cause to be emitted any noise which leaves the premises on which it originates, crosses a property line, and enters onto any other premises in excess of the sound pressure levels during the time periods as specified in Table A or engaging in any of the prohibited activities as set forth in subsection (G) of this section. It is further unlawful for any person to emit or cause to be emitted any noise within the public premises in excess of the noise sound pressure level during the time period as specified in Table A or engaging in any of the prohibited activities as set forth in subsection (G) of this section. Table A Maximum Allowable Noise Sound Pressure Levels For Specific Premises
Type of Premises Location Where Noise is Measured Time Period Maximum Allowable Sound Pressure Level Residential premises Property line
7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 55 dB(A) Residential premises Property line 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 50 dB(A) Commercial premises Property line 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 65 dB(A) Commercial premises Property line 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 60 dB(A) Industrial premises Property line 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 80 dB(A) Industrial premises Property line 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 75 dB(A) Public premises Property line or anywhere on public premises 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 75 dB(A) Public premises Property line or anywhere on public premises 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 70 dB(A) 2.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4824304; v14 updated 2026-05-18).
Full Breakdown
Cranston's noise ordinance sets a Table A sound-pressure ceiling of 55 dB(A) at the property line for residential premises from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., dropping to 50 dB(A) from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Commercial, industrial and public premises get their own higher nighttime caps. The chief of police enforces the limits with a calibrated sound level meter measured at the property line or 25 feet from the source. A separate provision bars amplified music from being plainly audible beyond 25 feet of the operator between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Violations & Fines
First offense draws up to a $50 fine, a second offense up to $100, and each subsequent offense up to $500: with every hour a noise exceeds the limit counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What decibel limit applies to Cranston at night?
Is loud music after 9 p.m. illegal in Cranston?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cranston
How Cranston compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Cranston to another location·View the Rhode Island noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle quiet hours.