Arlington, TX Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)
Key Facts
- Audibility test
- 50 feet from property
- Quiet hours
- 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Second response
- Within 90 days = bill
- Max fine
- $500 plus costs
Summary
Arlington Code prohibits unreasonably loud gatherings audible 50 feet from the property line. APD can issue citations and, on a second response within 90 days, bill the host for police service costs under a nuisance party ordinance.
Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly:(1) uses abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language in a public place, and the language by its very utterance tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace;(2) makes an offensive gesture or display in a public place, and the gesture or display tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace;(3) creates, by chemical means, a noxious and unreasonable odor in a public place;(4) abuses or threatens a person in a public place in an obviously offensive manner;(5) makes unreasonable noise in a public place other than a sport shooting range, as defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code, or in or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy;(6) fights with another in a public
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Arlington Code Chapter 11 (Health and Sanitation) and Chapter 9 (Offenses) prohibit unreasonably loud parties, especially between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Officers responding to complaints first issue a warning; if APD must return within 90 days for the same address, the host can be cited and billed for the actual cost of the second response. The ordinance targets large house parties, particularly near UTA student housing. AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field game-day tailgates in residential adjoining streets are frequent enforcement targets. Property owners receive copies of citations.
Violations & Fines
First response is typically a warning. Second response within 90 days triggers a Class C misdemeanor citation with fines up to $500 plus billed police service costs. Persistent offenders can face nuisance-property declarations under city code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be charged for the police visit?
Are tailgates allowed near AT&T Stadium?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington
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Loud Party Ordinance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Tarrant County handle loud party ordinance.