Marion County, FL Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Marion 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
- Code Section
- Marion County Code 13-7
- Residential night limit
- 55 dB(A), 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Residential day limit
- 65 dB(A), 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Noise-sensitive zone
- 55 dB(A) any time
- Enabling ordinance
- Ord. 99-2; amended by Ord. 15-08 (2015)
Summary
Unincorporated Marion County sets time-averaged decibel limits that drop at night: residential areas fall from 65 dB(A) (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) to 55 dB(A) (10 p.m.-7 a.m.), and commercial areas from 65 to 60 dB(A). Noise-sensitive zones are capped at 55 dB(A) at all times.
TABLE 2 - sound level limits: Category B (residential/recreation) 65 dB(A) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 55 dB(A) from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; Category C (commercial) 65 dB(A) daytime and 60 dB(A) overnight; Category A (noise-sensitive zone) 55 dB(A) any time. These limits shall not be exceeded at the receiving property line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 122 | Land Development Code: Supplement 7).
Full Breakdown
Marion County Code Chapter 13 (Noise and Vibration Control), Section 13-7, establishes maximum permissible A-weighted sound levels by land-use acoustic category and time of day, measured at the receiving property line. Table 2 sets residential/recreational areas (Category B) at 65 dB(A) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 55 dB(A) from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; commercial/office areas (Category C) at 65 dB(A) daytime and 60 dB(A) overnight; noise-sensitive zones (Category A) at 55 dB(A) any time; and industrial areas (Category D) at 75 dB(A) any time. A pure-tone source is reduced by 5 dB(A). The limit is also treated as exceeded if any single instantaneous reading is 15 dB or more above the category limit. The chapter was originally adopted by Ordinance No. 99-2 and substantially amended by Ordinance No. 15-08 in 2015.
Violations & Fines
Under Section 13-14, a first violation draws a warning to abate, a second violation a $100 civil penalty, and third and subsequent violations a $500 civil penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the quiet hours in unincorporated Marion County?
Is the noise limit measured at my house or the source?
What happens for a sudden loud noise spike?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marion County
How Marion County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Marion County to another location·View the Florida noise ordinances overview
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