Quiet hours in Scranton, PA β also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time β define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
The City of Scranton sets numeric quiet-hour limits at Chapter 317-8 of the City Code. In residential districts, no operation may generate more than 69 dB(A) measured 10 feet inside the receiving lot between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, or more than 64 dB(A) between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. and all day on Sundays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, July 4th, Labor Day and Memorial Day.
Scranton's noise framework is Chapter 317 of the City Code (eCode360 SC1588), originally adopted as Chapter 22 of the 1979 Code and superseded by Ordinance No. 116-1996 on September 24, 1997. The receiving-district table at Section 317-8 is the quantitative core. For a lot in a residential district, the limit measured 10 feet inside the receiving property line is 69 dB(A) during the daytime window (7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. weekdays except holidays) and 64 dB(A) during the nighttime window (9:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m., plus the full day on Sundays, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, New Year's Day, July 4th, Labor Day and Memorial Day). I-G and I-L industrial districts sit at 78 dB(A) at all times. Any other receiving lot line is at 70 dB(A) at all times. Section 317-7(A) layers a qualitative standard on top: 'No person shall make, continue or cause to be made or continued any noise disturbance' - meaning any sound that disrupts or injures the comfort, repose, health, hearing, peace or safety of persons; annoys, disturbs or perturbs a reasonable person with normal sensitivities; endangers or injures personal or real property; or exceeds the Section 317-8 table. Noncommercial public speaking and public assembly activities are expressly exempted, which is the Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155 (2015) content-neutrality safeguard. Section 317-7(C) creates a prima facie evidentiary rule: noise that disturbs two or more residents in separate residences who agree on times and duration is prima facie evidence of a noise disturbance. Enforcement is by the Scranton Bureau of Police under Section 317-3.
Section 317-11 sets a flat schedule: each violation is a fine of up to $600, or imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both. Every day a violation continues is a separate offense. Equitable remedies (injunction in Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas) remain available in addition to criminal prosecution. A parallel charge under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5503 (Pennsylvania disorderly conduct) is available where the conduct rises to public alarm or annoyance with intent or recklessness.
Scranton, PA
Scranton City Code Section 317-7(A)(13) bars operation of construction, drilling or demolition tools or equipment that creates a noise disturbance across a r...
Scranton, PA
Scranton regulates barking dogs through two parallel chapters of the City Code. Chapter 317-7(A)(15) (Noise) creates a bright-line test: any animal or bird t...
Scranton, PA
Scranton's Code of Ordinances Chapter 169 (Animals) prohibits dogs from running at large in the City, requires that any leash or chain not exceed six feet in...
See how Scranton'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.