Quiet hours in Lowell, MA — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Lowell Code Chapter 204, Section 204-3 sets district-based dBA limits keyed to time of day. In single- and two-family residential districts the limit drops to 40 dB(A) from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (45 dB(A) in the 6 PM-10 PM evening band, 50 dB(A) daytime).
Lowell does not use a single citywide curfew; instead Section 204-3 (Sound-level limits, 'Limits established,' added 3-28-2006) of Chapter 204 fixes maximum sound levels at the real-property boundary by zoning district and time of day. For single-family, two-family and the SSF/TSF/TTF/USF districts the limit is 50 dB(A) from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 45 dB(A) from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and 40 dB(A) from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Multifamily and Neighborhood Business districts run 60/55/50 dB(A) across the same three bands, and industrial districts as high as 70 dB(A) by day. A separate interior standard in Section 204-3D bars sound crossing between dwelling units in one structure above 45 dB(A) (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) or 35 dB(A) (10 p.m.-7 a.m.). It is unlawful to exceed any listed limit 'by five decibels or more.' Over-arching all of this, Section 204-4A independently prohibits any unlawful noise that 'annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of any reasonable person of normal sensitivity residing in the area,' so a violation need not be metered.
First violation: written warning requiring cessation within 10 minutes (Section 204-6A(4)). Second or subsequent violation: $100 fine per offense, enforceable by noncriminal disposition under MGL c. 40, Section 21D; each day is a separate violation (Section 204-6A(5)). Police and Health Departments enforce.
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