Kennewick, WA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Kennewick, WA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Daytime window
- 6:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
- Nighttime window
- 8:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m.
- Nighttime dBA cut
- 10 dBA reduction, Class A zones
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor charge
- Test applied
- Unreasonably annoys, injures, endangers others
Summary
Kennewick's noise ordinance sets a tighter nighttime standard between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.: unreasonable noise that annoys, injures, or endangers others' comfort or safety is a misdemeanor under KMC 9.52.030, with receiving-property noise limits cut by 10 dBA overnight.
Every person who shall make ... any unnecessary or unusual noise between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. which either unreasonably annoys, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of others; and every person who shall, between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. make or continue ... any noise which either unreasonably annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of others ... creates a nuisance and shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Kennewick's noise ordinance sets a stricter nighttime standard than daytime. Between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., unreasonable noise that annoys, injures, or endangers others' comfort, repose, health, or safety violates KMC 9.52.030(1). Between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., the same unreasonable-annoyance test applies to noise from machines, trades, or otherwise, unless the noise is necessary to protect life or property. A violation is a misdemeanor. The 8:00 p.m.-to-6:00 a.m. window also triggers a 10 dBA reduction in the maximum permissible noise levels for residential (Class A EDNA) receiving property under KMC 9.52.060(2)(a).
Violations & Fines
Making or continuing unreasonable, unnecessary noise during the 8:00 p.m.-to-6:00 a.m. curfew (or daytime noise that unreasonably annoys or endangers others) is a misdemeanor under KMC 9.52.030, on top of any applicable dBA-limit violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Kennewick's quiet hours?
Is a noise-curfew violation a criminal charge in Kennewick?
Do decibel limits change at night in Kennewick?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kennewick
How Kennewick compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Kennewick to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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