San Marcos, TX Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in San Marcos, TX, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 34.088
- Standard
- No fixed hours: factor-based test
- Max fine
- $500.00 per conviction
- Repeat-violation step
- Police notice after 2 verified complaints/60 days
- Vehicle stereo rule
- Audible 30+ ft = violation (§ 34.087)
Summary
San Marcos has no fixed nighttime quiet-hours window; instead it bans "excessive noise" audible across property lines, judged by time of day, size of the gathering, amplification, and duration.
It is unlawful for a person who owns, occupies or acts as a property manager for a residence or is present at any residence to cause, make, or allow excessive noise to be made there if it can be heard across property lines or enters another residence. Factors to be used in determining whether noise is excessive shall include but need not be limited to: the time of day; the size of any gathering of persons making or contributing to the noise; the use of noise amplification equipment; the magnitude or disruptive effect of the noise; the duration of the noise.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 41).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 34.088, anyone who owns, occupies, manages, or is present at a residence may not cause or allow excessive noise that can be heard across property lines or that enters another residence. Rather than setting a curfew like 10 p.m.-7 a.m., the code lists factors officers weigh case by case: time of day, crowd size, use of amplification equipment, magnitude and duration of the noise, and whether it would distress a person of ordinary sensibility. A separate provision (§ 34.087) bars car stereos audible 30+ feet away at any hour, with a daytime (8 a.m.-9 p.m.) defense for business vehicles.
Violations & Fines
Excessive noise heard across a property line or inside a neighboring residence violates § 34.088, punishable by a fine up to $500.00 per conviction under § 1.015(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does San Marcos have set quiet hours, like 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.?
What happens after repeated noise complaints at the same address?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Marcos
How San Marcos compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Texas rules heatmap·Compare San Marcos to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
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