Winnebago County, IL Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Winnebago County, IL, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- County Quiet Hours
- None set countywide
- State Disorderly Conduct
- 720 ILCS 5/26-1
- State Noise Limits
- 35 Ill. Adm. Code Parts 900-910
- Nighttime Window
- 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (state)
- Enforcement
- Winnebago Co. Sheriff (815) 319-6000
Summary
Winnebago County has no county-wide noise ordinance with fixed quiet hours for unincorporated areas. State law (720 ILCS 5/26-1 disorderly conduct) and Illinois Environmental Protection Act noise rules (35 Ill. Adm. Code Part 900) apply. Rockford and other cities set their own quiet-hour windows.
Sec. 26-1. Disorderly conduct. (a) A person commits disorderly conduct when he or she knowingly: (1) Does any act in such unreasonable manner as to alarm or disturb another and to provoke a breach of the peace... (b) Sentence. A violation of subsection (a)(1) of this Section is a Class C misdemeanor.
Full Breakdown
As a non-home-rule county, Winnebago County has not adopted a stand-alone numeric noise ordinance with set quiet hours for unincorporated areas. The county relies on Illinois state law: 720 ILCS 5/26-1 disorderly conduct (knowingly making any unreasonable or offensive act, gesture, or display that alarms or disturbs another), and the Illinois Pollution Control Board noise regulations at 35 Ill. Adm. Code Parts 900 through 910, which set numeric daytime and nighttime decibel limits at receiving residential property lines (lower limits 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.). The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office responds to disturbance complaints in unincorporated areas. The City of Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, South Beloit, and other municipalities within the county adopt their own noise codes with specific quiet-hour windows that govern within city limits.
Violations & Fines
Disorderly conduct under 720 ILCS 5/26-1 is a Class C misdemeanor on first offense (up to 30 days jail, $1,500 fine). Repeat or aggravated offenses can rise to Class A misdemeanor or Class 4 felony. Pollution Control Board noise violations carry civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation under 415 ILCS 5/42.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unincorporated Winnebago County have fixed quiet hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winnebago County
How Winnebago County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Winnebago County to another location·View the Illinois noise ordinances overview
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