Leander, TX Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)

Leander relies on its citywide noise ordinance, not a dedicated STR rule, to control noise from short-term rentals. The noise provisions sit in the Code of Ordinances at Chapter 8 (Offenses and Nuisances), Article 8.04 (Noise). The ordinance prohibits sound that disturbs the quiet, comfort, or repose of persons of ordinary sensibilities, and it singles out the hours from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. for heightened protection. Specifically, the code treats as prohibited disturbances: playing a radio, phonograph, or musical instrument so loudly that it annoys or disturbs people in any dwelling, particularly between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.; using a stationary loudspeaker or amplifier to produce sound of an intensity that annoys persons of ordinary sensibilities during those same nighttime hours; and keeping an animal that barks, whines, howls, or makes other annoying noises for more than thirty minutes between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The ordinance also defines the decibel (dB) as the unit of measurement for sound-pressure level. For a short-term rental, this means guest parties, outdoor speakers, and barking pets are all citable nuisances, especially overnight. Leander Code Enforcement handles complaints, and Leander Police can respond to active disturbances. Because the rule is conduct-based and applies to all properties, an STR operator is responsible for the noise their guests create and should communicate the 10:00 p.m. quiet-hour expectation to guests.