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Frederick, MD Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Quiet hours in Frederick, MD, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.

Key Facts

Daytime hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Nighttime hours: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Residential night limit: 55 dBA (vs. 65 dBA day)
1st offense fine: $100 municipal infraction
3rd+ offense fine (12 mo.): $1,000
Variance term: up to 2 years, hearing required

Summary

Frederick's noise ordinance splits the day into 'daytime hours,' 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and 'nighttime hours,' 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., under City Code § 15-21.1. Table 1 in § 15-21.2(a) then holds nighttime noise to lower decibel ceilings than daytime in every zoning district, enforced with escalating municipal-infraction fines.

(b)"Daytime hours" means 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., local time. ... (d)"Nighttime hours" means 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., local time.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Management Code: Supplement 13 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 112).

Full Breakdown

m. 2(a) then cross-references those windows to set maximum ambient noise by zoning district: residential properties drop from 65 dBA in the daytime to 55 dBA at night, commercial zones drop from 67 to 62 dBA, while industrial zones stay flat at 75 dBA both day and night. 4 by submitting a written hardship request, advertising a public hearing at least 30 days in advance in a local newspaper, and having the Mayor and Board of Aldermen grant relief for up to two years, renewable after a further hearing. 5. 7(f).

Violations & Fines

A first violation of the nighttime noise limits is a municipal infraction punishable by a $100 fine, a second violation within 12 months is $500, and a third or subsequent violation within 12 months is $1,000, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense (§ 15-21.7(a)-(b)). A violator operating under a city-approved compliance plan is not considered in violation while following that plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hours count as 'nighttime' under Frederick's noise law?

10 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, per § 15-21.1(d); 'daytime hours' run 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. under § 15-21.1(b), and the stricter nighttime decibel ceilings in Table 1 of § 15-21.2(a) apply the moment nighttime hours begin.

Are noise limits lower at night in Frederick?

Yes. Table 1 under § 15-21.2(a) drops the residential ceiling from 65 dBA in the daytime to 55 dBA at night, drops commercial zones from 67 to 62 dBA, while industrial zones stay at 75 dBA around the clock.

Can a business get an exception to Frederick's nighttime noise limits?

Yes, through a variance under § 15-21.4: the applicant files a written hardship request, advertises a public hearing at least 30 days ahead in a local newspaper, and the Mayor and Board of Aldermen may grant relief for up to two years.

What's the penalty for repeatedly violating Frederick's quiet hours?

It escalates: $100 for a first offense, $500 for a second within 12 months, and $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense within that 12-month window, with each day of an ongoing violation treated as a separate offense under § 15-21.7(a)-(b).

Sources & Official References

[1]Frederick, MD Code of Ordinances §§ 15-21.1, 15-21.2 (Noise)

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All Frederick rules

How Frederick compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Frederick to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview

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