Howard County, MD Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Howard County, MD, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Nighttime hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Daytime hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Residential night limit
- 55 dBA (COMAR)
- Governing section
- Howard County Code 8.900
- Applies to
- Entire unincorporated county
Summary
Because Howard County has essentially no incorporated towns, the County Code governs all residents including Columbia and Ellicott City. Section 8.900 defines nighttime hours as 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and bars noise received on residential property above the state COMAR 26.02.03 limits, which drop to 55 dBA at night.
A person may not cause or permit noise levels emanating from any property, such that the levels received on residential property exceed the levels contained in table 2 of COMAR 26.02.03.03A.(1).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 91 | Zoning: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
Howard County is a charter (home-rule) county, and Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge and the other communities are all unincorporated, so the County Code applies countywide. Title 8, Subtitle 9, Section 8.900 (Noise affecting residential areas) sets the framework. It defines 'Daytime hours' as 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 'Nighttime hours' as 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., local time. It then prohibits causing or permitting noise emanating from any property that, when received on residential property, exceeds the levels in the state environmental-noise table (COMAR 26.02.03). Those residential limits are 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime, so the practical quiet-hour standard tightens by 10 dBA after 10:00 p.m.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of Section 8.900 is a Class E civil offense; a subsequent violation is a Class D civil offense, enforced by the Police Department with civil penalties under Title 24 of the County Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are quiet hours in Howard County?
Does the county rule cover Columbia and Ellicott City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howard County
How Howard County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Howard County to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview
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