Southborough, MA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Section 130-4(A) of the Southborough noise bylaw sets the town's general nighttime quiet period. Yelling, shouting, whistling, singing, playing music or the making of any loud noises so as to annoy or disturb the reasonable quiet, comfort or repose of identified persons is prohibited between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The opening line of § 130-4 adds that these activities are prohibited if they generate an unreasonable disturbance, so the rule targets conduct that actually disturbs identified persons, not every sound at night.

Other time windows sit alongside it. Liquor-licensed establishments face a 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. window for distinctly audible noise under § 130-4(G), and truck loading or unloading noise audible beyond the property line is restricted over the same 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. hours under § 130-4(D). Work noise has its own daytime schedule in § 130-3: homeowner work is allowed between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, while contracted work is allowed between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Saturdays, and not on Sundays or Holidays.

Section 130-2 defines Holidays as New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day on the dates it prints.

Exemptions in § 130-5 cover emergency alerts and work, non-commercial speech as guaranteed by State and Federal constitutions, church and school bells, and parades, public gatherings or events for which appropriate permits or licenses have been issued. The Select Board can grant a temporary exception of no more than three days under § 130-7(D). A designated police officer is the Enforcement Official under § 130-2, and the Police Department enforces the bylaw under § 130-7(A).