El Paso, TX Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)
Key Facts
- Night noise limit
- 70 dB(A), 10 p.m.–7 a.m.
- Who gets cited
- Resident, owner or occupant present
- Criminal penalty
- Class C misdemeanor, up to $500/day
- Civil penalty
- Up to $1,000 per day
- Governing sections
- City Code §§ 9.40.030, 9.40.060
Summary
In El Paso, a party whose sound crosses your property line above 70 dB(A) between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. is illegal, and the resident, owner, or occupant present is the one police cite, not only the guest making the noise.
§ 9.40.030(A): "it shall be unlawful for any person to conduct, permit, allow, or produce a sound that is discernable beyond the property lines... exceeds seventy dB(A) between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. daily..." § 9.40.060(A): "At residential property. Any resident, owner or occupant present at the time of the offense, and any guest or trespasser with the ability to control the sound level at the time of the offense when no resident, owner or occupant is present..."
Full Breakdown
El Paso City Code Section 9.40.030(A) makes it unlawful to produce a sound discernible beyond your property line that exceeds 70 dB(A) between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. A gathering can also be cited any hour of the day when the noise unreasonably disturbs a person of reasonable sensibilities. Section 9.40.060 pins responsibility on any resident, owner, or occupant present at the time of the offense, and on a guest or trespasser controlling the volume when no resident is present. The Police Department, Code Enforcement, and Planning & Inspections enforce the chapter. Each violation is a Class C misdemeanor carrying a fine up to $500, each day a separate offense, plus a civil penalty up to $1,000 per day.
Violations & Fines
A party over 70 dB(A) at the property line after 10 p.m., or any noise that disturbs a reasonable person, is a Class C misdemeanor; the resident or occupant present is cited, each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be fined for my guests' noise at my party?
What time do the loud-party limits apply?
How much is the fine for a loud party?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso
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