Oklahoma City, OK Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Oklahoma City, OK, 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
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Residential night limit
- 50 dBA ambient (L90)
- Residential day limit
- 55 dBA ambient (L90)
- Governing section
- § 34-12, Table I
- Penalty
- Class "a"/"b" offense
Summary
Oklahoma City's noise code sets stricter nighttime sound limits from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., cutting allowable decibel levels in residential zones by 5 dBA compared to the 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daytime standard.
Zoning district classifications time L 90 L 10 R-A, RA-2, R-1, HP, R-1ZL, R-2, R-3, R-3M, R-4, R-4M, R-MH-1, R-MH-2, NC*, C-CBD*, PUD*, SPUD*, CUP*, BC*, NB*, DBD*, DTD-1*, DTD-2* (residential) 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. 55 dBA 50 dBA 65 dBA 60 dBA
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 34 doesn't set a single blanket curfew: it sets measurable decibel ceilings by zoning district and time of day. In residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-MH, etc.), the ambient sound limit (L90) drops from 55 dBA during 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. to 50 dBA during 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m., and the peak limit (L10) drops from 65 dBA to 60 dBA overnight. Commercial and industrial districts carry their own, higher day/night tiers under the same Table I. The City Manager can issue temporary noise permits for relief, but permits in residential zones can't run past 11:00 p.m. absent urgent necessity.
Violations & Fines
A first violation is a Class "a" offense against the City; a second or later violation is a Class "b" offense, and each continuous day of disturbance counts as one offense under § 34-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Oklahoma City's quiet hours start?
Is there a fixed decibel number for noise complaints at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oklahoma City
How Oklahoma City compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Oklahoma City to another location·View the Oklahoma noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle quiet hours.