Waltham, MA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Waltham, MA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Weekday Quiet Hours
- 10 PM to 7 AM
- Weekend Quiet Hours
- 10 PM to 8 AM
- Enforcement
- Waltham Police non-emergency
- State Authority
- MGL c.40 s.21
- Max Fine
- Up to 300 dollars
Summary
Waltham enforces nighttime quiet hours under Chapter 10 of the Municipal Code, with stricter limits in residential zones near Brandeis and Bentley campuses.
(22) For controlling and abating noise from whatever source, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the right to restrict or limit the use of automobile horns and the operation of motor vehicles in such a manner as to cause excessive noise.
(23) For requiring that designated parking spaces for vehicles either owned and operated by disabled veterans or by handicapped persons and bearing the distinctive number plates authorized by section two of chapter ninety, or for vehicles transporting handicapped persons and displaying the special parking identification plate authorized by said section two of said chapter ninety, or for vehicles bearing the official identification of a handicapped person issued by any other state, or any Canadian Province, be
Full Breakdown
Waltham Municipal Code Chapter 10 (Peace and Good Order) prohibits unreasonable noise that disturbs neighbors between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM on weekdays, and 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM on weekends. The ordinance applies citywide including dense neighborhoods around Moody Street, South Side, and near the Charles River. Waltham Police respond to complaints via the non-emergency line. Authority derives from MGL c.40 s.21, which allows cities to regulate noise for public welfare. Repeated violations can escalate to misdemeanor charges with fines up to 300 dollars per incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I call police for a loud neighbor at 11 PM?
Do quiet hours apply to college housing?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waltham
How Waltham compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Waltham to another location·View the Massachusetts noise ordinances overview
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Quiet Hours in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle quiet hours.