Kenosha, WI Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Kenosha, WI, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of Gen. Ordinances § 23.05(B)(1)(a)
- Quiet hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Nighttime decibel cap (residential)
- 50 dBA, § 23.06 Table 1
- Power equipment curfew
- 9:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m., § 23.09.D
- Penalty
- $25-$500 forfeiture, § 23.19
Summary
Kenosha's noise ordinance sets a citywide 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. quiet period during which radios, TVs, musical instruments and amplifiers cannot create a "noise disturbance" across a property line, with a stricter 50 dBA ceiling on measured sound in residential and similar districts overnight.
Between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M. the following day in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance across a real property boundary; except for activities open to the public and for which a permit has been issued by the Department of Public Works for the City of Kenosha, Wisconsin, according to criteria set forth in Section 23.06... TABLE 1. SOUND LEVELS ... 7:00 A.M.-10:00 P.M. / 10:00 P.M.-7:00 A.M. 60 / 50
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 11 Update 1 | Zoning Ordinance: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
04 declares "noise" as defined in Chapter XXIII a public nuisance subject to abatement. 06's criteria. restriction on public rights-of-way and spaces. 3. 07. D. 03: the Police Department handles complaints outside regular City Hall hours, the Health Department during them. 19: a forfeiture of not less than $25 nor more than $500, plus prosecution costs, with County Jail commitment up to 60 days on default of payment.
Violations & Fines
Creating a noise disturbance across a property line, or exceeding the 50 dBA nighttime limit in Table 1, between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. violates Section 23.05.B.1.a / 23.06. Penalties run under Section 23.19's incorporated Chapter IV penalty: $25-$500 forfeiture, plus costs, up to 60 days jail on default; each day a separate offense under related sections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do quiet hours start in Kenosha?
Is there a numeric decibel limit at night, or just a disturbance standard?
Can lawn mowers or leaf blowers run early in the morning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kenosha
How Kenosha compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Kenosha to another location·View the Wisconsin noise ordinances overview
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