Howard County, MD Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Howard County, MD, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Nighttime hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., local time
- Daytime hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., local time
- Construction and demolition cap, daytime
- 90 dBA
- Home air conditioner / heat pump cap
- 70 dBA / 75 dBA at receiving residential property
- Criminal penalty
- Fine up to $100.00, up to 30 days, or both
- Civil penalty tier
- Class E first violation, Class D after
- Meter standard
- ANSI S1.4-1971 Type II sound level meter
Summary
Howard County defines nighttime hours as 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and daytime hours as 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Under § 8.900, no one can cause or permit noise that reaches a residential property above the COMAR table 1 limits, and construction or demolition noise is capped at 90 dBA by day. A violation is a misdemeanor or a civil offense.
(2) Daytime hours means 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., local time. (3) Nighttime hours means 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., local time. ... (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and in subsection (d) of this section, a person may not cause or permit noise levels emanating from any property, such that the levels received on residential property exceed the levels contained in table 1 OF COMAR 26.02.03.02B.(1). (2) A person may not cause or permit noise levels emanating from construction or demolition-site activities that exceed: (i) During daytime hours, 90 dBA; or (ii) During nighttime hours, the levels specified in table 1 OF COMAR 26.02.03.02B.(1). ... (1) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is subject to a fine of up to $100.00, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 91 | Zoning: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
Section 8.900 of the Howard County Code splits the day into two windows. Daytime hours run from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and nighttime hours run from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., both in local time. The ordinance does not set one decibel number for every home. Subsection (b)(1) instead bars any person from causing or permitting noise from any property that, once it arrives at a residential property, exceeds the levels in table 1 of COMAR 26.02.03.02B.(1), the Maryland state noise regulation the county ties its standard to. The printed section does not reproduce that table, so the numeric residential limit for each window comes from COMAR itself.
Construction and demolition sites get their own rule in subsection (b)(2). During daytime hours the cap is 90 dBA. During nighttime hours the site must meet the same table 1 levels that apply to every other source, which is why the 10:00 p.m. start of nighttime hours matters most to contractors and property owners running late jobs.
Measurement is covered in subsection (c). Readings are taken on or within the property line of the receiving property, or at the boundary of a zoning district, and can be taken at any point when several sources have to be sorted out. The sound level meter must meet or exceed ANSI S1.4-1971 specifications for Type II meters.
Subsection (d) lists fourteen exemptions. Lawn care and snow removal equipment are exempt only during daytime hours and only when used and maintained to manufacturer specifications. Blasting and pile driving are exempt between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Sound that is not electronically amplified from sporting, amusement and entertainment events and other public gatherings run under county terms and conditions is exempt between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight. Motor vehicles on public roads, aircraft at airports licensed by the State Aviation Administration, railroads and rapid rail vehicles, emergency operations, and construction and repair work on public property are also exempt. Home cooling and heating equipment is not left unlimited: air-conditioning equipment cannot exceed 70 dBA and heat pump equipment cannot exceed 75 dBA at the receiving residential property.
Violations & Fines
A person who violates § 8.900 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, faces a fine of up to $100.00, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both. The Police Department can instead enforce with civil penalties under title 24 of the Howard County Code, where a first violation is a Class E civil offense and each later violation is a Class D civil offense. The health department can also issue civil penalties when the noise comes from commercial or industrial property.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do quiet hours start in Howard County?
Can I run a lawn mower or snow blower at night?
How loud can a construction site be in Howard County?
Is my home air conditioner or heat pump covered by the noise limit?
Who enforces the noise ordinance and what is the penalty?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howard County
How Howard County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Howard County to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview
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