Milwaukee, WI Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Milwaukee, WI, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Night hours
- 9 p.m.–7 a.m.
- Residential night limit
- 45 Noise Rating Number
- Residential day limit
- 55 Noise Rating Number
- Enforcing agency
- City commissioner
- First-offense penalty
- Class E forfeiture
Summary
Milwaukee's noise code defines night as 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and cuts the allowable noise level in residential districts from 55 down to 45 on the Noise Rating Number scale during those hours, measured at the property line.
NIGHT shall mean the hours between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. ... No person shall produce, assist in producing or cause to be produced noise which exceeds the limitations set forth in s. 80-64 or 80-65. ... NOISE RATING NUMBER DISTRICT DAY NIGHT Residential Districts 55 45
Full Breakdown
City Code ch. 80, subch. 2 sets zoning-district noise ceilings by time of day. "Night" runs 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.; "day" is 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Producing noise above the district limit is unlawful under s. 80-63. In residential districts the ceiling drops from 55 (day) to 45 (night) Noise Rating Number at the lot line, with a further 5-point cut for pure-tone or impulsive noise. The commissioner enforces the subchapter, and a first violation of ss. 80-60 to 80-65-3 carries a Class E penalty under s. 80-90, rising to Class O for a repeat offense within 3 years.
Violations & Fines
Class E forfeiture on first offense; Class O for a repeat conviction within 3 years (s. 61-21).
Frequently Asked Questions
What hours count as "night" under Milwaukee's noise code?
How much quieter must a residential property be at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Milwaukee
How Milwaukee compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Milwaukee to another location·View the Wisconsin noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Milwaukee County handle quiet hours.