Tacoma, WA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Tacoma, WA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Quiet hours
- 11:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.
- Covers
- yelling, shouting, hooting, singing
- Also unlawful anytime
- if unreasonably disturbing
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine / 90 days jail
Summary
Yelling, shouting or singing near a Tacoma street between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is flagged as a public disturbance noise on its own, no decibel meter needed, just an unreasonable disruption of a neighbor's peace.
Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on or near the public streets, particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time and place so as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the peace, comfort and repose of owners or possessors of real property;
D. The creation of frequent, repetitive or continuous sounds which emanate from any building, structure, apartment, or condominium, which unreasonably interfere with the peace, comfort, and repose of owners or possessors of real property, such as sounds from audio equipment, musical instruments, band sessions, or social gatherings;
E. Sound from audio equipment, such as tape players, radios, and compact disc players, operated at a volume so as to be audible greater than 50 feet from the source, and if not operated upon the property of the operator. The foregoing provisions shall not apply to regularly scheduled events at parks, such as public address systems for baseball games or park concerts. (Ord. 24464 § 2, 1989-11-07; Ord. 26949 § 5, 2002-07-16; Ord. 27673 Ex. D, 2008-02-19; Ord. 27956 Ex. A, 2010-12-14; ratified and reconfirmed by Ord. 28943, 2024-01-16; Subst. Ord. 28922 2023-12-05)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4946110; v22 updated 2026-07-28).
Full Breakdown
Tacoma Municipal Code § 8.12.060(C) singles out yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, or singing on or near public streets between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. as a 'public disturbance noise,' alongside a general rule that the same conduct is unlawful at any hour if it unreasonably disturbs a property owner's peace, comfort, and repose. The same section separately bars frequent motor-vehicle horn or engine noise in residential districts and audio equipment audible past 50 feet. This nighttime street-noise rule sits in Chapter 8.12, apart from the ambient decibel-increase table in Chapter 8.122.
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 8.12.060 is a misdemeanor: up to 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine, with a $500 first-offense fine ($250 of it not suspendable) and $700 for each later violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tacoma have set nighttime quiet hours?
Can I be cited for loud conduct outside those hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
How Tacoma compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Tacoma to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle quiet hours.