Royal Oak Township, MI Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Chapter 32, Article X, Performance Standards, carries the Township's hour-by-hour noise rules. Section 32-791(b)(5) caps the average A-weighted sound level at the receiving property boundary: in a residential district, 55 dB(A) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dB(A) from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Commercial districts that are not noise sensitive are held to 65, noise-sensitive commercial districts to 55 and industrial districts to 70, day or night. The limit drops by five dB(A) for a pure tone or an impulsive or impact-type sound where the receiving district is residential or commercial-noise sensitive. The section also defines the day-night average sound level by adding 10 dB(A) to levels during 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Three fixed-hour prohibitions sit beside the table. Operating construction, drilling or demolition tools is prohibited from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and any time on Sundays or holidays when the sound creates a noise disturbance across a residential district boundary or within a noise sensitive zone, except for emergency work of public service utilities. Loading and unloading of boxes, crates, containers, building materials and garbage cans is prohibited from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. in a way that causes a noise disturbance across that boundary or in a noise sensitive zone. Section 32-791(b)(3) exempts emergency alerts and emergency work, snow plowing, street sweeping and other public works, church bells, and lawn care and house maintenance between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. A variance request goes to the zoning board of appeals with a background noise study.

Chapter 8, Article II, adds a general rule. Section 8-22 makes it unlawful to willfully or negligently make or continue any loud or unusual noise that disturbs the peace and quiet of a neighborhood, and the time of day or night is one of the nine factors used to decide a violation. Section 8-23(b) limits residential power equipment such as lawn mowers and leaf blowers to 7:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. The Township Board can grant a noise permit in advance to an applicant who shows unreasonable hardship (§ 8-23(d)).