Des Moines, IA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Des Moines, IA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Nighttime limit
- 60 dBA / 50 dBC
- Curfew hours
- 10 p.m.–7 a.m.
- Zones covered
- Residential (P1, N1-N5, etc.)
- Enforced by
- Community Development & Police
- Max penalty
- $750 (repeat: $1,000)
Summary
Des Moines residential zones face a stricter nighttime noise limit, 60 dBA and 50 dBC from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., under the city's sound-level ordinance, enforced by the community development and police departments.
no person shall make, continue, or cause to be made or continued, any sound which exceeds the following sound level limits at or within the real property boundary of a receiving land use:
Table 1. Sound Levels By Receiving Land Use Zoning Category of Receiving Land Use Time Sound Level Limit Unamplified limit in dBA Amplified limit in dBC
P1 and residential zones: N1-N5, NX1-NX3, NX2a, NM, and a residential legacy PUD 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 60 50 Mixed use and commercial zones: Legacy PUD, DX1, DX2, DXR, MX1-MX3, CX At all times 65 Industrial zones: EX, I1, I2 At all times 75 Noise sensitive area At all times 55 F flood district At all times 65
For the purposes of this article, unamplified sound levels in excess of the dBA and amplified sound levels in excess of the dBC listed in table 1 shall be deemed a violation, except this subsection shall not apply to:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Des Moines Municipal Code § 42-254(a) sets maximum sound levels by zoning district and lowers them at night. In residential zones (P1, N1-N5, NX1-NX3, NX2a, NM, and residential legacy PUDs), the cap drops to 60 dBA unamplified and 50 dBC amplified between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., measured at the receiving property's boundary. Two companion curfews reinforce the same window: § 42-256(b) bars noisy loading, unloading or handling of boxes, crates, containers or garbage cans between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and § 42-260 bars construction, drilling or demolition work between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The community development and police departments jointly administer the noise program.
Violations & Fines
A violation is a simple misdemeanor or municipal infraction under § 42-268, punishable by a civil penalty of up to $750 per violation, or up to $1,000 for a repeat offense, per § 1-15(c).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Des Moines quiet hours for residential noise?
What happens if I violate the noise curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Des Moines
How Des Moines compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Des Moines to another location·View the Iowa noise ordinances overview
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