St. Louis County, MO Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

The rule is St. Louis County Code § 716.073, "Public Disturbance of the Peace, Loud Noise," in Chapter 716, the Petty Offenses Code. It contains no start or end time, so there is no 10 p.m. cutoff that opens a window of lawful loud noise. The standard applies around the clock, and the test is whether the sound disturbs the peace of another reasonable person.

Subsection 1 covers amplified and instrument sound: any radio, music player such as a "boom box," tape cassette, disc player, television, audio system or musical instrument. Playing one in a manner or at a volume that disturbs a reasonable person is unlawful. The only carve-out in that subsection is an otherwise lawful public concert or public performance.

Subsection 2 covers the human voice and everything else: it is unlawful to speak, shout, sing or create any noise at a volume that disturbs the peace of another reasonable person. The one exception is summoning assistance in an emergency, so a call for help is never a violation.

Subsection 3 supplies the measuring stick. For prosecution, any speech, song or noise, or the playing of any of the listed devices, is presumed to disturb a reasonable person if the volume is plainly audible to persons more than fifty (50) feet away from the source. No decibel meter is required. Plain audibility past 50 feet is the trigger.

Occupants are also exposed for what happens at their address. Section 716.070 bars a person from permitting conduct of the kind in Section 716.073 in or upon any house or premises that person owns, possesses or controls, so that others in the vicinity are likely to be disturbed. A host or tenant can be charged for a party even if someone else turned up the speakers.

Scope matters. Under § 716.020, Sections 716.040 through 716.180 apply only to the area of St. Louis County outside incorporated cities, towns and villages. Residents of an incorporated municipality fall under that municipality's own noise rules instead.