Whatcom County, WA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Whatcom County, WA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Day Limit
- 55 dBA (WAC 173-60)
- Night Limit
- 45 dBA, 10 PM to 7 AM
- County Rule
- WCC 20.80.620
- Unincorporated
- Sheriff non-emergency line
Summary
Washington sets no universal statewide quiet hours, but WAC 173-60 lowers allowable residential noise by 10 dBA overnight (to 45 dBA, 10 PM to 7 AM). Whatcom County and Bellingham enforce these limits on complaint.
Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the noise limitations of the foregoing table shall be reduced by 10 dBA for receiving property within Class A EDNAs.
Full Breakdown
Whatcom County doesn't publish a single quiet-hours clock. Instead, WCC 20.80.620 ties development to WAC 173-60, the state's maximum environmental noise levels: 55 dBA daytime and 45 dBA nighttime for Class A (residential) receiving property. Between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., the daytime limit drops 10 dBA. Complaints in unincorporated areas go to the Whatcom County Sheriff's non-emergency line; inside Bellingham, the police enforce the public disturbance noise code. Enforcement is complaint-driven, so someone living or working nearby has to report it.
Violations & Fines
Noise beyond WAC limits or Bellingham's disturbance standard draws a warning first, then a civil infraction up to $250. Repeat Bellingham offenses become misdemeanors, up to $1,000 or 90 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Whatcom County have set quiet hours?
Who do I call about late-night noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Whatcom County
How Whatcom County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Whatcom County to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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