Tucson, AZ Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Tucson, AZ, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Residential nighttime limit
- 62 dB(A), 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Residential daytime limit
- 70 dB(A)
- Commercial nighttime limit
- 65 dB(A)
- Industrial nighttime limit
- 70 dB(A)
- Mixed-use lots
- lower limit applies to residential portion only
- Penalty
- civil infraction, § 1-8(2)
Summary
Tucson's noise ordinance sets stricter decibel ceilings overnight: residential property lines can't exceed 62 dB(A) between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., versus 70 dB(A) during the day. Commercial and industrial property get the same nighttime cut too. Violations are civil infractions enforced by Tucson Police and the city attorney.
(a) Maximum permissible sound levels. No person shall conduct or permit any activity that produces a dB(A) beyond that person's property line exceeding the levels specified in Table I. Where property is used for both residential and commercial purposes, the residential sound levels shall be used only for measurements made on the portion of the property used solely for residential purposes. TABLE I Use of Property Receiving the Sound: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. / 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Residential 70 / 62. Commercial 72 / 65. Industrial 85 / 70. All limits expressed in dB(A).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-150: Current through June 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
m. ) to 62 dB(A) overnight; commercial property falls from 72 dB(A) to 65 dB(A); industrial property falls from 85 dB(A) to 70 dB(A). Where a property serves both residential and commercial uses, the lower residential limit applies only to the portion of the property used solely for residential purposes, so a mixed-use lot doesn't get the benefit of the stricter cap everywhere. window can cite a violation once the reading tops 62 dB(A) residential (or the applicable commercial/industrial threshold) without needing to prove the sound is otherwise a nuisance.
That's distinct from subsection (b)'s separate list of specific prohibited noises (stereos, barking dogs, construction, raucous shouting), which apply regardless of decibel level if they're plainly audible and disturb the neighborhood. The city manager may grant temporary exemptions from the Table I limits under subsection (d) for events, capped at 30 days, after weighing factors like proximity of residences and the time of night the activity would occur. Enforcement is handled by the Tucson Police Department and the city attorney's office, and violations are civil infractions.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the Table I nighttime decibel limits is a civil infraction under Tucson City Code § 1-8(2), prosecuted under Chapter 8 procedures by the police department and city attorney. The court enters an abatement order against anyone found responsible, and a resident filing a complaint does not have to appear in court for the citation to proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the noise limit at my property line after 10 p.m. in Tucson?
Does the nighttime limit apply to a home business?
Do I need a decibel meter to prove a nighttime noise complaint?
Can an event get an exception to the nighttime limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tucson
How Tucson compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Tucson to another location·View the Arizona noise ordinances overview
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