Gary, IN Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Chapter 28, Article V of the Gary Municipal Code lists specific noise offenses under the citywide general prohibition. Section 28-162(a) makes it unlawful to make or continue any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise that annoys, disturbs or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of others within Gary's limits, and § 28-162(b) says the sections that follow it, including § 28-172, are examples of what counts. Section 28-172 zeroes in on human voice noise: yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on the public streets is unlawful, and the code calls out 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. as the window when it is particularly a problem, though the same conduct is also barred at any hour if it disturbs an office, dwelling, hotel or resident nearby.

Enforcement runs through § 28-179: a Gary police officer who finds a violation can order the person responsible to stop, can then issue a citation at the officer's discretion, and anyone who refuses the order without undue delay can be arrested even without a citation, with the officer authorized to confiscate equipment such as speakers if necessary. Because the Code treats § 28-172 as one of the enumerated acts under the general noise prohibition, a citation can charge either section depending on the facts. Penalties fall under the Code's general fine structure at § 1-7: up to $2,500.00 for a first violation and up to $7,500.00 for a second or later violation, with each day a continuing violation persists counted as a separate offense.

The ordinance sits alongside neighboring sections banning noisy horns (§ 28-166), noisy vehicles (§ 28-165) and noisy animals (§ 28-171), all adopted by the same 1991 ordinance (Ord. No. 6545-B).