New York County Quiet Hours Rules (2026) — What You Need to Know

New York City's Noise Code, codified in Title 24, Chapter 2 of the NYC Administrative Code, is one of the most comprehensive municipal noise regulations in the United States. Section 24-218 establishes the general prohibition against unreasonable noise, defining it through specific decibel thresholds that vary by time of day.

During nighttime hours (10 PM to 7 AM), any sound attributable to a source that measures 7 dB(A) or more above the ambient sound level — as measured at any point within a receiving property or at a distance of 15 feet or more from the source on a public right-of-way — constitutes unreasonable noise. During daytime hours (7 AM to 10 PM), that threshold rises to 10 dB(A) above ambient. Impulsive sounds (sudden loud noises) are held to a stricter standard of 15 dB(A) above ambient at all times.

Section 24-231 adds specific protections against commercial music. Music from bars, restaurants, clubs, and other commercial establishments must not exceed 42 dB(A) as measured inside any residential receiving property, and must not exceed 45 dB in any one-third octave band between 63 Hz and 500 Hz. This targets bass-heavy music that penetrates walls and floors, a common complaint in Manhattan's dense residential-commercial mix.

Complaints are filed through 311, which routes them to the appropriate agency. The NYC Department of Environmental Protection handles commercial and construction noise complaints, while the NYPD responds to residential neighbor-to-neighbor disputes and street-level noise. Vehicle alarms are limited to three minutes of continuous sound under the code.