Lake County, IN Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Lake County, IN, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Lake County Code Ch. 93 (Ord. 1116A)
- Power tools banned
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Construction banned
- 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Parties/gatherings
- 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- Enforced by
- Lake County Police Department
Summary
Unincorporated Lake County, Indiana has a real noise ordinance (Code Chapter 93, Ord. 1116A). Its general rule bans any noise that unreasonably annoys or disturbs others at any hour, and specific nighttime limits apply to power tools (10 p.m.-7 a.m.), construction (8 p.m.-7 a.m.) and parties (10 p.m.-8 a.m.).
No person shall make or cause to be made any noise that unreasonably annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, safety, or welfare of any person or precludes their enjoyment of property or affects their property's value. This general prohibition is not limited by the specific restrictions listed in the following sections. (Prior Code, § 94.02) (Ord. 1116A, passed 4-13-1993) Penalty, see § 93.99
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-14: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through 6-9-2026; and State legislation current through Indiana Legislative Service, 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).
Full Breakdown
Lake County Code Chapter 93 (adopted by Ord. 1116A in 1993) governs noise in the unincorporated county; cities and towns such as Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Merrillville and East Chicago enforce their own codes. There is no single 'quiet hours' clock covering all activity, but the general prohibition in § 93.01 applies around the clock, and Chapter 93 sets specific nighttime windows: amplified devices may not be plainly audible across property boundaries at any hour, domestic power tools are barred outdoors 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m., construction equipment 8:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m., and noisy parties 10:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m. Boundary decibel caps (§ 93.03) apply at all times.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Chapter 93 (other than the car-stereo section 93.08) are punished under the county's general penalty, § 10.99. Enforcement runs through the Lake County Police Department, with citations filed in and prosecuted before Lake Superior Court, County Division.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the quiet hours in unincorporated Lake County, Indiana?
Does the county ordinance apply inside Gary or Crown Point?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
How Lake County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Lake County to another location·View the Indiana noise ordinances overview
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