Lee County, FL Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Lee 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 (residential)
- 55 dBA, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Day limit (residential)
- 66 dBA, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Multifamily overnight
- 45 dBA in receiving unit
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Lee County only
- Enforced by
- Lee County Sheriff's Office
Summary
In unincorporated Lee County the residential sound limit drops from 66 dBA to 55 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., measured within the receiving property. Incorporated cities set their own rules.
Residential, public space, or agricultural: 7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. 66 dBA; 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. 55 dBA. No person shall operate any source of sound so as to create a sound level which exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land use category when measured at or within the real property line.
Full Breakdown
The Lee County Noise Control Ordinance applies in all of unincorporated Lee County. Table 1 caps residential, public space and agricultural land at 66 dBA and 71 dBC from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., dropping to 55 dBA and 60 dBC from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. In multifamily buildings the overnight cap, measured in the receiving unit, is 45 dBA or 50 dBC. Ordinary residential activity such as lawn care and domestic power tools is excepted between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. If no meter reading is possible, the Sheriff's Office may find a noise disturbance instead.
Violations & Fines
A violation is prosecuted in the same manner as a misdemeanor: a fine up to $500.00, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both. Each day a continuing violation lasts is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do these hours apply inside Cape Coral or Fort Myers?
How is the noise measured?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lee County
How Lee County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Lee County to another location·View the Florida noise ordinances overview
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