Quiet hours in Sarasota, FL — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
City of Sarasota Code Chapter 20 (Sound Regulations) - known as the 'City of Sarasota Sound Control Ordinance' - sets objective dBA/dBC sound caps at the real property line. Quiet hours for amplified outdoor sound run 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (extended to 11:00 p.m. on Thursday-Sunday near the Lemon Avenue Mall).
Sec. 20-5(b)(1)(a) prohibits amplified sound outside a completely enclosed building from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. that exceeds 65 dBA / 70 dBC measured at the real property line, or that has a 5 dB or greater difference between dBA and dBC readings. Sec. 20-5(b)(2) caps continuous source sound at 75 dBA / 80 dBC during 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m., dropping to 75 dBA / 75 dBC overnight. Sec. 20-5(b)(3) caps impulsive sound at 80 dBA peak. Measurements per Sec. 20-5(a) are taken at or beyond the real property line, approximately 5 feet above ground, using slow-meter response.
Sec. 20-8 requires a warning first (typically 15 minutes to comply). Sec. 20-9 makes any non-compliance after warning - or recurrence within 90 days - a municipal code violation prosecuted under Sec. 1-11 (typically up to $500 per offense, with daily violations charged separately). The City may also seek injunctive relief as the noise is declared a public nuisance.
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