Dayton, OH Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Dayton, OH, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Night period
- 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.
- Day period
- 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
- Night tolerance
- 5 dBA/10 min or 10 dBA/3 min
- Day tolerance
- 5 dBA/15 min or 10 dBA/5 min
Summary
Dayton's zoning code treats 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. as the stricter nighttime noise period, allowing far smaller exceedances above the schedule limit than are allowed between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Between the hours of 7:00 am. and 10:00 p.m., the noise in Schedule 150.420.4 (D)(1) may be exceeded by no more than:
(1) 5 dBA for a total of 15 minutes in any 1-hour period,
(2) 10 dBA for a total of 5 minutes in any 1-hour period, or
(3) 15 dBA for a total of 30 seconds in any 1-hour period.
Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., the noise limits in Schedule 150.420.4(D)(2) may be exceeded by no more than:
(1) 5 dBA for a total of 10 minutes in any 1-hour period or
(2) 10 dBA for a total of 3 minutes in any 1-hour period.
Impulsive sound (such as sounds with a duration of less than 1 second, such as from punch presses) shall not exceed the levels of Schedule 150.420.4(D)(1) (daytime) or Schedule 150.420.4(D)(2) (nighttime) by more than 5 dBA, as measured with the sound level meter on the slow response setting. (Ord. 30515-05, passed 12-28-05)
(1) Daytime Noise Limits.
Schedule 150.420.4 (D)(1) Daytime Noise Limits
Noise Source Receiving Property
Business Residential Business Industrial Industrial 65 dBA Residential 60 dBA 60 dBA 70 dBA
Full Breakdown
Dayton's zoning noise standard splits the day at two points, 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. During the day, the Schedule 150.420.4(D)(1) limit may be exceeded by up to 5 dBA for 15 minutes, 10 dBA for 5 minutes, or 15 dBA for 30 seconds in any hour. At night, the Schedule 150.420.4(D)(2) tolerance is tighter: exceedances are capped at 5 dBA for 10 minutes or 10 dBA for 3 minutes per hour, so the same noise level tolerated by day becomes a violation sooner after 10 p.m.
Violations & Fines
Noise that exceeds the nighttime Schedule 150.420.4(D)(2) tolerance - more than 5 dBA over the limit for over 10 minutes, or 10 dBA over for more than 3 minutes, in any hour - violates Dayton's quiet-hours standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours count as 'quiet hours' under Dayton's noise code?
Can noise ever exceed the posted limit at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dayton
How Dayton compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Dayton to another location·View the Ohio noise ordinances overview
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