Quiet hours in Whatcom County, WA — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Washington sets no universal statewide quiet hours, but WAC 173-60 lowers allowable residential noise by 10 dBA overnight (to 45 dBA, 10 PM to 7 AM). Whatcom County and Bellingham enforce these limits on complaint.
Whatcom County doesn't publish a single quiet-hours clock. Instead, WCC 20.80.620 ties development to WAC 173-60, the state's maximum environmental noise levels: 55 dBA daytime and 45 dBA nighttime for Class A (residential) receiving property. Between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., the daytime limit drops 10 dBA. Complaints in unincorporated areas go to the Whatcom County Sheriff's non-emergency line; inside Bellingham, the police enforce the public disturbance noise code. Enforcement is complaint-driven, so someone living or working nearby has to report it.
Noise beyond WAC limits or Bellingham's disturbance standard draws a warning first, then a civil infraction up to $250. Repeat Bellingham offenses become misdemeanors, up to $1,000 or 90 days.
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See how Whatcom County's quiet hours rules stack up against other locations.
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