Quiet hours in Dover, FL — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Dover is an unincorporated CDP in eastern Hillsborough County, so noise is governed by the County's Noise Control Ordinance in Code Part A, Chapter 1, Article III. The ordinance uses a 'plainly audible' standard at the property line and sets quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Construction noise sources are exempt only between 6 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. under the Environmental Protection Commission's Noise Pollution Rule.
Hillsborough County's Noise Control Ordinance applies to all unincorporated areas, including Dover, Plant City fringe, and Brandon-area CDPs. The ordinance prohibits noise that is plainly audible at a distance of 100 feet from the property line or, in any case, that disturbs the peace and quiet of neighbors during the protected hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County (EPC) enforces noise standards for fixed sources and exempts construction only between 6:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Music, amplified sound, party noise, vehicles, and outdoor equipment are common citation triggers. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) responds to active complaints, and EPC handles repeat or industrial sources. Dover's roughly 3,260 residents are fully covered by these County rules; the CDP has no city government.
Plainly-audible violations are typically civil citations starting at $125 and rising to $500 for repeat offenses within twelve months. Continued noise can be charged criminally under Florida Statute Sec. 877.03 (breach of peace) and EPC may issue separate environmental citations.
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