Manatee County, FL Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Manatee County, FL, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Night limit
- 55 dBA / 60 dBC (11pm–7am)
- Day limit
- 60 dBA / 65 dBC
- Weekend day extends to
- Midnight (Fri/Sat/pre-holiday)
- Citation
- § 2-21-34; MCSO / Code Enforcement
- Applies in
- Unincorporated Manatee County
Summary
In unincorporated Manatee County, sound must not exceed 55 dBA / 60 dBC at night (11:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.) or 60 dBA / 65 dBC daytime. Fridays, Saturdays and pre-holidays extend daytime to midnight. Cities set their own rules.
Sound level limits. No person shall generate or cause to be generated from any source, sound which, when measured in accordance with the requirements of subsection (d) of this section, exceeds: 1. Sixty (60) dBA or sixty-five (65) dBC during the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. Friday, Saturday and the day prior to a federally recognized holiday, the hours shall be from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight. 2. Seventy-two (72) dBA or seventy-seven (77) dBC if the receiving land is a residential use adjacent to a commercial use during the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. Friday, Saturday and the day prior to a federally recognized holiday, the hours shall be from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight. 3. Fifty-five (55) dBA or sixty (60) dBC during the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. Friday, Saturday and the day prior to a federally recognized holiday, the hours shall be from 12:00 midnight to 7:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 124 | Land Development Code: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Manatee County Code § 2-21-34(2)(b) caps sound from any source at the receiving property. Daytime (7:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m., Sun–Thu) limit is 60 dBA or 65 dBC; nighttime (11:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.) drops to 55 dBA or 60 dBC. Friday, Saturday and the day before a federal holiday, the daytime window runs to 12:00 midnight. Residential land adjacent to commercial use is allowed 72 dBA / 77 dBC daytime. Continuous sound is reduced 5 dBA; short, non-repetitive sound gets +5 dBA in daytime. A separate 'noise disturbance' standard lets officers cite by ear without a meter.
Violations & Fines
Escalating civil fines: $100 first, $250 second, $500 third within 365 days; or notice to appear as a second-degree misdemeanor (FS 775.082). Officers give ~15 minutes to correct first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do these limits apply in Bradenton or Anna Maria Island?
Can I be cited without a decibel meter?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manatee County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Manatee County to another location·View the Florida noise ordinances overview
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