Littleton, CO Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Littleton, CO, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM
- Threshold
- Power equipment over 5 horsepower
- Where it applies
- Residential and business districts
- Construction carve-out
- Governed separately by 7-3-5(J)
- Waiver authority
- City Manager, Sec. 7-3-13
Summary
Littleton's core nighttime noise curfew bars power equipment over 5 horsepower from running in residential or business districts between 10 PM and 7 AM. City Code Section 7-3-5(H) covers chain saws, pavement breakers, riding tractors and similar commercial-grade equipment on any property or public way.
H. Commercial Power Equipment: Between the hours of ten o'clock (10:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M., no person shall operate on any property within a residential or business district(s) or on any public way within residential or business district(s) any power equipment rated more than five (5) horsepower, such as, but not limited to, chain saws, pavement breakers, lot chippers, riding tractors, or powered hand tools. Construction equipment used for construction activities are regulated under subsection (J) of this Section, and are therefore excluded from the restrictions of this subsection.
Full Breakdown
M. The subsection expressly carves out construction equipment used for construction activities, which is instead regulated under 7-3-5(J)'s separate weekday and weekend hours. A companion overnight curfew in the same section, 7-3-5(C), bars church, clock or school bells and chimes during the identical 10 PM to 7 AM window. The whole section was last amended by Ordinance 20, Series of 2024, effective August 29, 2024, and sits inside Chapter 7-3, the noise code first adopted by Ordinance 13, Series of 1974. The City Manager can waive the hour restrictions in 7-3-5 under Section 7-3-13 for construction, reconstruction, repair or maintenance of public improvements or utilities when the public welfare outweighs the noise impact, after weighing factors like proximity to affected persons and whether an emergency exists.
Violations & Fines
Violating the equipment curfew is enforced under Section 7-3-11: for a stationary or non-vehicle noise source, enforcement personnel may issue a 24-hour to 5-day written correction notice before a summons, or proceed directly to a summons and complaint. No specific fine is set for Chapter 7-3, so the general penalty in Section 1-4-1 applies: up to $2,650 and up to 364 days in jail, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Littleton's noise curfew start?
Does the curfew cover home lawn equipment too?
Can the City ever waive the 10 PM curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Littleton
How Littleton compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Littleton to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle quiet hours.