Monroe County, PA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Monroe County, PA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Countywide code
- None: set locally
- Typical quiet hours
- 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- State law
- 18 Pa.C.S. §5503
- POA rules
- Often stricter than township
- Enforcement
- Local/state police
Summary
Monroe County has no countywide noise code. Quiet hours are set by each of the 20 townships and boroughs, and by the POA communities most residents live in. Statewide, unreasonable noise is a summary offense under 18 Pa.C.S. §5503.
An offense under this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree if the intent of the actor is to cause substantial harm or serious inconvenience, or if he persists in disorderly conduct after reasonable warning or request to desist. Otherwise disorderly conduct is a summary offense.
Full Breakdown
Pennsylvania is a Dillon's Rule state, so the county sets no general noise limits. Stroud, Pocono and Coolbaugh Townships and Mount Pocono Borough each adopt their own quiet hours, commonly 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Inside gated POA communities like A Pocono Country Place, Penn Estates and Arrowhead Lakes, the association's rules impose their own, often stricter, quiet hours enforced by community security. Statewide, anyone making unreasonable noise faces a disorderly-conduct citation from local or state police.
Violations & Fines
Disorderly conduct under §5503 is a summary offense, up to $300 plus costs. Township ordinance fines commonly run $100 to $1,000; POA communities levy their own fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Monroe County have a noise ordinance?
What law covers late-night noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monroe County
How Monroe County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Monroe County to another location·View the Pennsylvania noise ordinances overview
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