Olmsted County, MN Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Olmsted County does not maintain a county-wide noise ordinance among the chapters listed at olmstedcounty.gov/government/ordinances-codes (e.g., Ch. 1400 Zoning, Ch. 1500 Trespassing, Ch. 2500 Rabies, Ch. 2600 Dangerous Dog). For unincorporated areas, the controlling standards are Minnesota Rules Chapter 7030 (Noise Pollution Control), promulgated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Part 7030.0040 establishes statewide maximum permissible noise levels by Noise Area Classification (NAC). NAC-1 covers residential and similar sensitive land uses: daytime (7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.) limits are L10 65 dB(A) / L50 60 dB(A); nighttime (10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.) limits are L10 55 dB(A) / L50 50 dB(A). NAC-2 (commercial) and NAC-3 (industrial) carry higher limits. L10 is the level exceeded 10% of any one-hour survey; L50 is the level exceeded 50% of the hour. Disturbing-the-peace conduct is criminalized at the state level by Minn. Stat. 609.72 (disorderly conduct - misdemeanor), which the Sheriff's Office can enforce. Within Olmsted County's eight cities (Rochester, Stewartville, Byron, Pine Island, Chatfield, Dover, Eyota, Oronoco) and 18 townships, local ordinances may impose additional rules - for example, Rochester prohibits 'loud, unnecessary or unusual noise' that disturbs the peace. Townships such as Rochester Township have adopted their own noise ordinances. Always check the township or city code for the specific parcel.