Quiet hours in Lancaster County, NE — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
In Lincoln and the surrounding 3-mile zone, residential nighttime quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., when the sound limit at a residential property line drops from 60 dBA to 50 dBA. Elsewhere in unincorporated Lancaster County, general nuisance rules apply.
Lincoln's Noise Control Ordinance (LMC Chapter 8.24) sets property-line sound limits by time of day for sound crossing a residential boundary or entering a noise-sensitive zone. For radios, instruments and similar devices the daytime standard is 60 dBA (7 a.m.–10 p.m.) and the nighttime standard is 50 dBA (10 p.m.–7 a.m.), measured as a three-minute Leq. The ordinance applies within the City of Lincoln and the area within three miles of the city; beyond that, unincorporated Lancaster County relies on general nuisance law and your village's rules. Anyone may also seek a short variance from the Health Department.
Misdemeanor: fine up to $500 or up to six months jail. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
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See how Lancaster County's quiet hours rules stack up against other locations.
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