Quiet hours in Sangamon County, IL — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Sangamon County (the seat of state capital Springfield) does not enforce a county-wide decibel-based noise ordinance with set quiet hours for unincorporated areas. Loud, disturbing, or unreasonable noise is handled under Illinois state law - the disorderly conduct statute, 720 ILCS 5/26-1, which makes it a Class C misdemeanor to make any unreasonable or offensive act, display, or utterance that disturbs or alarms others. Sangamon County Sheriff (217-753-6666) is the responding agency. Inside city limits of Springfield and other municipalities, local noise ordinances apply instead.
Counties in Illinois have only the noise-control authority granted under 55 ILCS 5 (Counties Code) and 415 ILCS 5 (Illinois Environmental Protection Act / Illinois Pollution Control Board). Sangamon County has not adopted a stand-alone decibel-based noise ordinance with codified quiet-hours for unincorporated land. Day-to-day noise complaints are enforced through the Illinois disorderly conduct statute 720 ILCS 5/26-1(a)(1), which prohibits any act done in such an unreasonable manner as to alarm or disturb another and provoke a breach of the peace. Statewide environmental noise standards adopted by the Illinois Pollution Control Board (35 Ill. Adm. Code Part 900-901) limit sound from one property to another based on land-use class - generally lower limits apply 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. - and may be enforced by the IEPA. The City of Springfield (Title IX, Chapter 98 of its Code of Ordinances) prohibits excessive noise within city limits and is enforced by Springfield Police, not the county. Sangamon County Sheriff's Office handles unincorporated-area calls; chronic noise from animals (barking dogs) is handled by Sangamon County Animal Control under 510 ILCS 5 and the local animal regulation rather than by Sheriff's noise enforcement.
A disorderly conduct conviction under 720 ILCS 5/26-1(a)(1) is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,500. Repeat or aggravated noise that pollutes the environment may also be cited by the Illinois EPA under the Illinois Pollution Control Board's noise rules (35 Ill. Adm. Code Part 901), which carry civil penalties.
Sangamon County, IL
In unincorporated Sangamon County, fences are regulated under the Sangamon County Zoning Ordinance, Title 17 (adopted April 22, 1969, as amended), with the s...
Sangamon County, IL
Sangamon County requires all dogs (and cats and companion animals) to be restrained at all times when off the owner's property - either on a leash or under a...
Sangamon County, IL
Illinois bans most consumer fireworks under the Pyrotechnic Use Act (425 ILCS 35). Only sparklers, snake pellets, smoke devices, party poppers, and small cap...
Sangamon County, IL
Unincorporated Sangamon County has no STR-specific parking rule. The 1969 Sangamon County Zoning Ordinance Chapter 17.50 (Off-Street Parking and Loading) set...
Sangamon County, IL
Unincorporated Sangamon County has no STR-specific overnight occupancy cap. The 1969 Sangamon County Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) does not address short-term ...
Sangamon County, IL
Unincorporated Sangamon County imposes no STR-specific license fee. Operators owe Illinois state Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax (6%) on stays under 30 night...
See how Sangamon County's quiet hours rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.