Yakima, WA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Yakima's primary local noise authority is YMC Chapter 6.04 (Offenses Against Public Order and Peace), which prohibits 'public disturbance noise' - defined as sound that by its intensity, volume, frequency, duration or character unreasonably disturbs or interferes with the peace, comfort and repose of others. The chapter does not publish a numeric clock-time quiet-hours window like '10 p.m. - 7 a.m.' Instead, enforcement turns on the reasonableness standard, supplemented by the state-level framework. RCW 9A.84.030 (disorderly conduct) makes it a misdemeanor to make unreasonable noise that intentionally disturbs others. The Washington State Department of Ecology's WAC 173-60 (Maximum Environmental Noise Levels) sets statewide dBA caps where the local code is silent - WAC 173-60-040 reduces Class A (residential) receiving-property limits by 10 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., which functions as the de facto nighttime quiet window for noise sources affecting Yakima residential parcels (driving the residential cap down from 55 dBA daytime to 45 dBA nighttime). YMC 6.04 enumerates non-exclusive examples of public disturbance noise including frequent or unnecessary motor vehicle horn use, and the starting/operation/repair/rebuilding/testing of motor vehicles, motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, or internal combustion engines in residential areas. Yakima Code Administration (509-576-6657) handles non-emergency code-compliance complaints; in-progress disturbances route to Yakima Police non-emergency dispatch at SunComm 509-575-6200. The Office of Code Administration is authorized under YMC 6.04.180 to grant a regulatory permit to make noise otherwise prohibited where denial would create undue hardship.