El Paso, TX Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in El Paso, TX, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Quiet Hours
- 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM daily
- Code Section
- El Paso Code Chapter 9.40
- Daytime Limit
- 55 dB(A) at residential property line
- Nighttime Limit
- 50 dB(A) at residential property line
- Complaint Line
- El Paso 311 at (915) 212-0000
Summary
El Paso City Code Chapter 9.40 establishes citywide quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM, when loud or unreasonable noise audible at a property line is prohibited.
Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly: ... (5) makes unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range, as defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code, or in or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy ... (c) For purposes of this section:(1) an act is deemed to occur in a public place or near a private residence if it produces its offensive or proscribed consequences in the public place or near a private residence; and(2) a noise is presumed to be unreasonable if the noise exceeds a decibel level of 85 after the person making the noise receives notice from a magistrate or peace officer that the noise is a public nuisance.
Full Breakdown
Under El Paso Municipal Code Chapter 9.40 (Noise Control), any sound that disturbs the peace of a reasonable person during the hours of 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM is a violation. Residential receiving property limits are 55 dB(A) daytime and 50 dB(A) nighttime. Enforcement is handled by the El Paso Police Department non-emergency line and the Environmental Services Department. Residents can also file complaints through El Paso 311 at (915) 212-0000. The ordinance is complaint-driven, meaning officers typically respond when a neighbor reports a disturbance. Chihuahuan desert neighborhoods often carry sound farther than humid climates, so enforcement is fairly active on weekends.
Violations & Fines
First offense: Class C misdemeanor punishable by fine up to $500. Repeat violations within 12 months can escalate to $2,000 per offense. Each day of continuing violation constitutes a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are El Paso quiet hours?
How do I report a noise violation in El Paso?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso
How El Paso compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Texas rules heatmap·Compare El Paso to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
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