Jefferson County, CO Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Jefferson County, CO, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Daytime quiet-hours limit
- 55 dB(A), 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Nighttime quiet-hours limit
- 50 dB(A), 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Impulsive/shrill sound threshold
- 5 dB(A) below zone limit
- First-offense fine
- $30.00
- Maximum graduated fine
- $300.00
- Enforcing agency
- Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Summary
Jefferson County's Noise Abatement Policy bars any device or activity that exceeds 55 dB(A) between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and 50 dB(A) overnight in residential zones. Violators face a Class 2 Petty Offense with an escalating fine, enforced by the Sheriff's Office under Resolution CC07-202.
B.1. No person shall operate any type of vehicle, machine, or device, or carry on any activity, or promote or facilitate the carrying on of any activity which makes sound in excess of the level specified in the Permissive Noise Levels Section. ... D.3. Sound from a non-vehicular source located in a residential zone, shall not exceed the following limits: 7:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M.: 55 dB(A); 7:00 P.M. until 7:00 A.M. of the same day of the following day: 50 dB(A). D.4. Periodic, impulsive, or shrill noises are hereby declared unlawful when such noises are at or above a sound level of five dB(A) less than those listed in this Section. F.1. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Regulation commits a Class 2 Petty Offense. F.2. ... All persons who acknowledge guilt or are found guilty shall be punishable by a fine of $30.00 for each separate offense, plus customary court costs when applicable. A graduated fine schedule is to apply: a $30.00 increase for each recurring offense, beginning at $30.00 to a maximum of $300.00.
Full Breakdown
Part 3, Ch. 1, Sec. 1(B)(1) of the Jefferson County Policy Manual makes it unlawful to "operate any type of vehicle, machine, or device, or carry on any activity" that produces sound above the Permissive Noise Levels set in Section D. the next day, measured 25 feet from a property line under Section C. 4 tightens that further for periodic, impulsive, or shrill sounds, which are unlawful at just 5 dB(A) below those thresholds, so a repeating beep or a barking pattern is judged more strictly than steady background noise.
1 to include single- and multi-family dwellings, parks, open space, and even undeveloped land adjacent to housing, regardless of its official Zoning Resolution classification. The policy carves out exceptions for sanctioned speed/endurance events, snowmaking, county-sponsored cultural and athletic events (including fireworks displays), emergency vehicles, and animal sounds. "
Violations & Fines
Any violation is a Class 2 Petty Offense under Section F.1, citable under the penalty-assessment procedure of C.R.S. § 16-2-201. Section F.2 sets a $30 fine per offense plus court costs, with a graduated schedule adding $30 for each recurring offense up to a $300 maximum per person.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do quiet hours start in unincorporated Jefferson County?
Does a barking dog or beeping alarm get treated differently than steady noise?
What's the penalty for a quiet-hours violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson County
How Jefferson County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Jefferson County to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
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