Fort Worth, TX Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Fort Worth, 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 PM - 7 AM
- Residential
- 70/60 dBA day/night
- Downtown
- Extended to 2 AM
- Code Section
- Sec. 23-8 (Ord. 24752)
Summary
Fort Worth Sec. 23-8 (Ord. 24752-03-2021) sets quiet hours 10 PM-7 AM. Residential: 70 dBA daytime, 60 dBA nighttime. Central Business/Trinity Uptown: extended to 2 AM (80 dBA). Where ambient exceeds limits, ambient +3 dBA applies. Measurement from complainant's property line.
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: ... (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.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Fort Worth Code of Ordinances Chapter 23, Section 23-8 (Miscellaneous Offenses), amended by Ordinance 24752-03-2021, establishes quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Residential areas have limits of 70 dBA daytime (7 AM-10 PM) and 60 dBA nighttime (10 PM-7 AM). Non-residential and mixed-use zones allow 80 dBA daytime and 70 dBA nighttime. The H Central Business District and TU Trinity Uptown zones extend daytime hours to 2 AM at 80 dBA, with nighttime (2 AM-7 AM) at 70 dBA. Where ambient noise exceeds prescribed levels, the limit is ambient plus 3 dBA during daytime. Measurements require minimum 30-second duration from the complainant's property line. An unreasonable noise provision allows enforcement without a decibel meter based on disturbance to a person of ordinary sensibilities. TX Penal Code §42.01 supplements local enforcement.
Violations & Fines
Fine up to $500 per offense. Each day a separate violation. Unreasonable noise enforceable without dB meter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the quiet hours in Fort Worth?
What happens if I violate the noise ordinance in Fort Worth?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Worth
How Fort Worth compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Fort Worth to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Tarrant County handle quiet hours.