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.
Waltham enforces nighttime quiet hours under Chapter 10 of the Municipal Code, with stricter limits in residential zones near Brandeis and Bentley campuses.
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.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Waltham, MA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle quiet hours.
See how Waltham's quiet hours rules stack up against other locations.
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