Fort Lauderdale, FL Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Fort Lauderdale, FL, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Code of Ordinances ch. 17, sec. 17-6 (Table I)
- Residential outdoor (day)
- 60 dBA / 70 dBC, 7am-10pm
- Residential outdoor (night)
- 50 dBA / 60 dBC, 10pm-7am
- Residential indoor (night)
- 35 dBA / 45 dBC
- Non-amplified audible limit
- 25 ft night / 50 ft day (sec. 17-7(10))
Summary
Fort Lauderdale Code Chapter 17 (Noise Control) caps residential outdoor sound at 60 dBA / 70 dBC from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dBA / 60 dBC from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. A 2024 amendment also bars non-amplified residential sound that is plainly audible 25 feet from the property line at night (50 feet by day).
Sec. 17-6. - Maximum Permissible dBA Sound Levels. Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, it shall be unlawful, except as expressly permitted herein, to cause, allow, or permit the making of any sound which exceeds the limits set forth in this section. TABLE I MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE SOUND LEVEL LIMITS dBA and dBC. Residential, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.: Outdoor 60 dBA / 70 dBC*; Indoor 45 dBA / 55 dBC. Residential, 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.: Outdoor 50 dBA / 60 dBC; Indoor 35 dBA / 45 dBC. Commercial, 24 hours: Outdoor 65 dBA / 75 dBC; Indoor 55 dBA / 65 dBC. Industrial, 24 hours: Outdoor 75 dBA / 85 dBC; Indoor 65 dBA / 75 dBC. *If the residential use is within a commercial, industrial, or mixed use, or within two hundred (200) feet of such use, the outdoor sound level limit is sixty-five (65) dBA or seventy-five (75) dBC between 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Full Breakdown
Fort Lauderdale enforces noise through Code of Ordinances Chapter 17 (Noise Control), enacted by Ord. C-08-37 (July 15, 2008) and amended by Ord. C-24- in November 2024 to add C-weighted (dBC) limits that capture low-frequency bass. ); residential indoor 45 dBA / 55 dBC (day) and 35 dBA / 45 dBC (night). Commercial limits are 65 dBA / 75 dBC outdoor and industrial 75 dBA / 85 dBC, both 24 hours. If a residence sits within 200 feet of a commercial, industrial, or mixed use, the daytime outdoor limit rises to 65 dBA / 75 dBC. ) from the source property line. Measurements use LMAX of three 30-second readings within one hour.
Violations & Fines
Violations are enforced by noise control officers (environmental inspectors, building/zoning inspectors, code enforcement officers, and police) under Section 17-3, and are punishable under Section 17-2 by the penalties in Section 1-6 and/or Chapter 11 of the Code. Active disturbances are reported to the city's 311 / non-emergency line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are quiet hours in Fort Lauderdale?
What is the dBC limit and why was it added?
Does the ordinance cover non-amplified noise like loud parties or voices?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Lauderdale
How Fort Lauderdale compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Lauderdale to another location·View the Florida noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle quiet hours.