Plymouth County, MA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Plymouth County, MA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Quiet hours
- Set by each town
- Governing law
- MGL c.40 §21(22)
- Max bylaw fine
- $300 per offense
- Enforcement
- Local police
Summary
No single Plymouth County quiet-hours rule exists. Each town sets its own noise bylaw under MGL c.40 §21(22), the statute authorizing bylaws for controlling and abating noise from any source. Brockton and Plymouth enforce nighttime limits.
For controlling and abating noise from whatever source, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the right to restrict or limit the use of automobile horns and the operation of motor vehicles in such a manner as to cause excessive noise.
Full Breakdown
Massachusetts counties hold no ordinance power, so quiet hours across Plymouth County come from each town's noise bylaw, enacted under MGL c.40 §21(22). That statute lets Brockton, Plymouth, Duxbury, and Scituate restrict noise from whatever source. Brockton's ordinance bars unreasonable noise overnight; coastal towns like Marshfield and Hingham fix their own hours. MGL c.272 §53 backs enforcement statewide by making disturbing the peace a criminal offense. Local police, not the county, answer complaints and issue citations.
Violations & Fines
Town bylaw fines run to $300 per offense under MGL c.40 §21. Disturbing the peace under MGL c.272 §53 carries a fine up to $200 or imprisonment up to six months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Plymouth County set quiet hours?
Who enforces noise complaints?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth County
How Plymouth County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Plymouth County to another location·View the Massachusetts noise ordinances overview
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