Port Townsend, WA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Port Townsend, WA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Citywide curfew
- None -- nuisance standard applies 24/7
- Yard/construction noise window
- 7 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays
- Weekend/holiday window
- 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
- First-offense fine
- $66 civil infraction
- Enforcing agency
- Port Townsend Police Department
Summary
Port Townsend has no fixed nighttime noise curfew: PTMC 9.09.030 bans disturbing noise at any hour under a nuisance standard, while construction and yard-equipment noise is only exempt 7 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekends.
The following sound shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter between the hours of: 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays (other than holidays); and 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays... Sounds originating from residential property relating to temporary projects for the maintenance or repair of homes, grounds or appurtenances, such as created by powered or hand-operated equipment, lawnmowers, powered hand tools, hammers, saws, snow removal equipment and composters.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3364, passed May 18, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City police enforce noise under PTMC Chapter 9.09's public disturbance noise standard (9.09.030), which applies around the clock rather than during set night hours -- any sound that unreasonably disturbs a person of average sensitivity can draw a warning. The closest thing to quiet hours is PTMC 9.09.040(B): construction and residential yard-equipment noise (lawnmowers, power tools, saws) loses its exemption outside 7 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekends and holidays, so running that equipment overnight is effectively prohibited. The historic commercial district gets a separate 7 a.m.-1 a.m. window for live music under 9.09.040(C).
Violations & Fines
A first noise infraction under PTMC 9.09.060 costs $66, a second within a year costs $114, and a third costs $209; officers must warn first except for car-stereo noise audible past 50 feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Port Townsend have a 10 p.m. noise curfew?
When can I run a lawnmower or power tools?
What's the penalty for a noise violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Port Townsend
How Port Townsend compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Port Townsend to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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