Quiet hours in Pierce County, WA — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
In unincorporated Pierce County, the noise limits in Pierce County Code 8.76.060 are reduced by 10 dBA for residential (Class A) receiving property between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Chapter 8.72 PCC separately bans public disturbance noises at all hours. Incorporated cities (Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup) set their own quiet hours.
Pierce County adopts Washington's environmental-noise framework (WAC 173-60, under the Noise Control Act, RCW 70.107) in PCC Chapter 8.76, which applies only to the unincorporated county (PCC 8.76.010). Daytime source-to-receiver limits run 55-70 dBA by zoning class (PCC 8.76.060.B.1). PCC 8.76.060.B.2 provides that between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. those limits are reduced by 10 dBA for Class A (residential) receiving property, dropping a neighbor's nighttime cap to about 45 dBA. Separately, Chapter 8.72 PCC bars 'public disturbance noises' (barking dogs, amplified music, band or tavern sound, yelling) at any hour when they unreasonably disturb nearby residents, plus nuisance noise affecting three or more households (PCC 8.72.100). Inside a city, that city's code governs, not the county's.
The Sheriff's Office enforces Chapter 8.72 disturbance noise, generally on a resident's complaint (PCC 8.72.120). The county Noise Control Officer enforces Chapter 8.76 decibel limits. Complaints usually start with a warning; documented repeats support citations and civil penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Pierce County's quiet hours rules stack up against other locations.
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