Olathe, KS Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Olathe, KS, 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
- 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Automatic violation test
- Audible 50+ feet away
- First offense
- $50-$500 fine, Class C
- Repeat offense
- $500-$1,000 fine, Class B
Summary
Olathe bans unreasonably loud noise citywide and treats any sound plainly audible 50 feet away, or at the property line, between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. as automatic proof of a violation.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue, maintain, authorize or cause to be made or continued any unreasonably loud noise or any noise which injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of any reasonable person of normal auditory sensitivity within the City of Olathe.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to use, operate or permit the use or operation of any electronic device, radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, loud speaker or other machine or device for the producing, reproducing, or amplification of sound in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of any reasonable person of normal auditory sensitivity.
(C) Prima Facie Violation. A violation of this section which occurs between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) or more feet from the sound source or plainly audible at the adjacent property line, whether such adjacent property consists of single or multifamily dwellings, including, but not limited to, multiple-unit dwellings, apartments, high-density residential districts, hotels, motels and other places of temporary housing or lodging, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. “Plainly audible” shall mean any sound which can be heard at a distance of fifty feet (50') or more by the auditory senses. Words or phrases need not be discernible and bass reverberations are an included sound source.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-39, passed July 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Olathe Municipal Code § 9.11.150 prohibits making or continuing any unreasonably loud noise that disturbs the comfort or peace of a reasonable person, including from electronic devices, radios, or speakers. Between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., any noise plainly audible 50 feet or more from its source, or at the adjacent property line, is prima facie evidence of a violation -- no additional proof of disturbance is required during those hours. A first offense is a Class C public offense; a second or later conviction is bumped up to a Class B public offense with steeper fines and jail exposure.
Violations & Fines
First offense: Class C public offense, $50-$500 fine or up to 30 days jail. Second or later offense: Class B public offense, $500-$1,000 fine or up to 180 days jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes nighttime noise automatically a violation in Olathe?
Does the noise penalty get worse for repeat offenders?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Olathe
How Olathe compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Olathe to another location·View the Kansas noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Johnson County handle quiet hours.