Noise Ordinances in Washington (2026)
292 rules on the books across Washington, 48 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Quiet Hours
Nighttime and early morning noise restrictions. Most cities set specific hours when loud activities like lawn mowing, parties, and power tools are not allowed.
Auburn
Some RestrictionsAuburn treats yelling, shouting, whistling or singing on or near public streets as a public disturbance noise…
Read full rule →Bellevue
Some RestrictionsBellevue's noise code sets quiet hours of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekends…
Read full rule →Bellingham
Some RestrictionsBellingham's noise ordinance bars sound that unreasonably disturbs others' peace and comfort, and specifically…
Read full rule →Benton County
Some RestrictionsBenton County has no numeric curfew list; instead its noise exemptions do the work. Unamplified voices and lawn or…
Read full rule →Bothell
Some RestrictionsChapter 8.26 of the Bothell Municipal Code sets no single citywide curfew for all noise. BMC 8.26.060(D) singles out…
Read full rule →Burien
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Burien, Washington, BMC § 9.105.410 targets yelling, shouting, whistling or singing on or near public…
Read full rule →Chelan County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Chelan County has no clock-based nighttime noise curfew for private property; general noise is judged by…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Clark County has no single fixed "quiet hours," but yelling, shouting, whistling or singing near a…
Read full rule →Cowlitz County
Some RestrictionsCowlitz County's noise code defines daytime as 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends, meaning…
Read full rule →Edmonds
Some RestrictionsBetween 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Edmonds cuts the maximum permissible noise level by 10 dB(A) for residential…
Read full rule →Everett
Some RestrictionsEverett cuts its noise limits by 10 dB(A) for sound reaching residential District I properties between 10 p.m. and 7…
Read full rule →Federal Way
Some RestrictionsFWRC 7.10.020(3) bars yelling, shouting, whistling, or singing on or near public streets between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00…
Read full rule →Island County
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code § 9.60.030 bans several categories of noise between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in unincorporated areas…
Read full rule →Kennewick
Some RestrictionsKennewick's noise ordinance sets a tighter nighttime standard between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.: unreasonable noise that…
Read full rule →Kent
Some RestrictionsKent tightens its noise limits at night rather than banning sound outright: KCC 8.05.100(1) cuts the maximum…
Read full rule →King County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated King County tightens its noise limits at night: allowed sound levels drop by 10 dB(A) from 10 p.m. to 7…
Read full rule →Kirkland
Some RestrictionsKirkland bans yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing near public streets, especially between eleven p.m. and…
Read full rule →Kitsap County
Some RestrictionsKitsap County Code § 10.28.040(b) cuts every environmental noise limit by 10 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. for…
Read full rule →Lacey
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Lacey, Washington, noise limits for receiving property in Class A living areas drop by 10 dBA between…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood, Washington does not set a blanket citywide noise curfew, but its public-disturbance ordinance specifically…
Read full rule →Lewis County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Lewis County bars public disturbance noise between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. under LCC § 1.23.030…
Read full rule →Lynnwood
Some RestrictionsLynnwood, Washington enforces a 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. noise curfew: LMC 10.12.300(B)(7) bans yelling, shouting or…
Read full rule →Marysville
Some RestrictionsMarysville has no blanket nighttime quiet-hours ordinance: its curfew targets yelling, shouting, or singing on or near…
Read full rule →Mason County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Mason County does not shut off noise at a set clock hour, but Code Section 9.36.080 grants a narrow…
Read full rule →Pasco
Some RestrictionsPasco enforces a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. quiet period in residential districts, during which amplified sound, unamplified…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Pierce County, the noise limits in Pierce County Code 8.76.060 are reduced by 10 dBA for residential…
Read full rule →Port Townsend
Some RestrictionsPort Townsend has no fixed nighttime noise curfew: PTMC 9.09.030 bans disturbing noise at any hour under a nuisance…
Read full rule →Puyallup
Some RestrictionsCertain noises like lawn equipment, blasting, and bells are only exempt from Puyallup's noise code between 7:00 a.m…
Read full rule →Richland
Some RestrictionsThe City of Richland, Washington treats a loud unamplified human voice as a public disturbance noise under Richland…
Read full rule →Seattle
Some RestrictionsBetween 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays, and 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekends and legal holidays, SMC 25.08.420 cuts…
Read full rule →Shoreline
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Shoreline, yelling, shouting, whistling and singing that unreasonably disturbs a neighbor's peace is a…
Read full rule →Skagit County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Skagit County does not set one blanket quiet-hours window; instead SCC 9.50.040(2) bars specific…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsEvery maximum permissible sound level in unincorporated Snohomish County drops by 10 dB(A) at night in rural and…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Some RestrictionsWashington's Department of Ecology sets Spokane County's nighttime quiet hours under WAC 173-60-040: residential (Class…
Read full rule →Tacoma
Some RestrictionsYelling, shouting or singing near a Tacoma street between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is flagged as a public disturbance…
Read full rule →Thurston County
Some RestrictionsThurston County caps outdoor sound at 45 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. at neighboring property, dropping from the 55 dBA…
Read full rule →Vancouver
Some RestrictionsVancouver, Washington measures noise at the property line of the receiving property and caps it with Table…
Read full rule →Walla Walla County
Some RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code § 9.20.040(A) cuts the general sound-level limits by ten dB(A) between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on…
Read full rule →Whatcom County
Some RestrictionsWashington sets no universal statewide quiet hours, but WAC 173-60 lowers allowable residential noise by 10 dBA…
Read full rule →Yakima County
Some RestrictionsWashington's Department of Ecology noise regulation, WAC 173-60-040, sets Yakima County's quiet hours: between 10 p.m…
Read full rule →Grant County
Light RestrictionsUnincorporated Grant County has no blanket nighttime noise curfew. Instead, § 6.24.050(b) exempts specific noises…
Read full rule →Olympia
Light RestrictionsIn the City of Olympia, Washington, OMC § 9.16.020(D)(3) names the hours between eleven p.m. and seven a.m. when…
Read full rule →Construction Hours
When construction, demolition, and heavy equipment may run in residential areas. Most cities regulate this by hours and days rather than volume; violations can bring stop-work orders and fines.
Washington: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsWashington's noise code exempts temporary construction sounds during daytime hours from EDNA limits, while night…
Read full rule →Auburn
Some RestrictionsAuburn bars construction noise, including equipment, power tools and hammering, before 7:00 a.m. and after 10:00 p.m…
Read full rule →Bellevue
Some RestrictionsConstruction noise in Bellevue is exempt from the noise code only between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00…
Read full rule →Bellingham
Some RestrictionsIn residentially zoned areas, Bellingham bars motorized construction and industrial noise, including hammering…
Read full rule →Benton County
Some RestrictionsConstruction noise in unincorporated Benton County is exempt from WAC 173-60 limits while work is underway, but that…
Read full rule →Bothell
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Bothell, Washington, construction noise is allowed Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and…
Read full rule →Burien
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Burien, Washington, BMC § 9.105.410(2)(h) makes sound from construction sites a public disturbance noise…
Read full rule →Chelan County
Some RestrictionsConstruction activity within one thousand feet of an occupied residence in unincorporated Chelan County cannot run…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Clark County, using lawn mowers, chain saws and other repair or ground-maintenance power equipment is…
Read full rule →Cowlitz County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Cowlitz County, construction sounds are exempt from the noise ordinance only between 7:00 a.m. and…
Read full rule →Edmonds
Some RestrictionsEdmonds allows construction noise only between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays under…
Read full rule →Everett
Some RestrictionsEverett exempts temporary construction-site noise from its Chapter 20.08 limits only between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on…
Read full rule →Federal Way
Some RestrictionsFWRC 7.10.020(8) bars construction noise, including equipment, power tools, and hammering, between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00…
Read full rule →Franklin County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Franklin County exempts noise from home repair and maintenance projects only between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m…
Read full rule →Grant County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Grant County, construction site noise is exempt from the county's noise chapter only from 7 a.m. to…
Read full rule →Kent
Some RestrictionsKent's noise code exempts home maintenance and repair noise from its decibel limits only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00…
Read full rule →King County
Some RestrictionsConstruction in unincorporated King County is permitted 7 AM to 10 PM weekdays and 9 AM to 8 PM weekends under KCC…
Read full rule →Kirkland
Some RestrictionsConstruction and other development activity in Kirkland may only run 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m…
Read full rule →Kitsap County
Some RestrictionsKitsap County Code § 10.28.070 exempts construction-site sounds from the county's decibel limits and public disturbance…
Read full rule →Lacey
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Lacey, outside construction activities are unlawful between nine p.m. and seven a.m. in any residential…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood, Washington bars construction noise, including equipment, power tools and hammering, between 10:00 p.m. and…
Read full rule →Lewis County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Lewis County exempts construction noise from its public disturbance rule only between 7:00 a.m. and…
Read full rule →Lynnwood
Some RestrictionsLynnwood confines construction noise, including excavation, demolition, alteration or repair of buildings, to 7:00 a.m…
Read full rule →Marysville
Some RestrictionsMarysville Municipal Code § 6.76.060(11) makes construction work before 7:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m. a public nuisance…
Read full rule →Olympia
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Olympia, Washington, OMC 18.40.080(C)(7) exempts the temporary vibration produced by construction…
Read full rule →Pasco
Some RestrictionsPasco bans construction, excavation, demolition, or building alteration noise in residential districts between 10 p.m…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Pierce County exempts temporary construction-site noise from the Chapter 8.76 decibel limits during the…
Read full rule →Port Townsend
Some RestrictionsConstruction noise in Port Townsend is exempt from the noise ordinance only 7 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-7 p.m…
Read full rule →Puyallup
Some RestrictionsConstruction noise is exempt from Puyallup's noise code except between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., under PMC §…
Read full rule →Renton
Some RestrictionsRMC 4-4-030.C3 restricts residential construction to 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. weekdays and 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. weekends…
Read full rule →Richland
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Richland, Washington, construction noise audible more than 50 feet from a residential district is a…
Read full rule →Sammamish
Some RestrictionsSammamish limits construction activity and construction noise to 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to…
Read full rule →Seattle
Some RestrictionsSeattle SMC 25.08 limits construction equipment to 80 dBA measured at the receiving property line, with maximum-noise…
Read full rule →Shoreline
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Shoreline, construction noise outside 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsConstruction equipment noise at a temporary construction site is exempt from Snohomish County's decibel limits during…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Spokane County exempts construction-site noise from its general noise-disturbance ban only between 7:00…
Read full rule →Spokane Valley
Some RestrictionsSpokane Valley's noise disturbance ordinance treats construction sound as unlawful outside a narrow window. Temporary…
Read full rule →Tacoma
Some RestrictionsTacoma bars non-emergency construction and demolition work between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays (9 a.m. on…
Read full rule →Thurston County
Some RestrictionsThurston County exempts construction-site noise from its public disturbance noise limits only between 7 a.m. and 10…
Read full rule →Vancouver
Some RestrictionsOutdoor construction in Vancouver, Washington, including construction staging, must happen no earlier than 7 a.m. and…
Read full rule →Walla Walla County
Some RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code § 9.20.070(E) exempts construction equipment and temporary construction-site sounds from the…
Read full rule →Yakima
Some RestrictionsYakima Municipal Code § 6.04.180(F)(15) exempts sounds created by construction or lawn and garden equipment from the…
Read full rule →Island County
Light RestrictionsIsland County exempts construction noise from its public-disturbance ordinance only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.; §…
Read full rule →Mason County
Few RestrictionsIn unincorporated Mason County, construction noise is not capped by a decibel table at all. Code Section 9.36.090…
Read full rule →Yakima County
Few RestrictionsYakima County's noise chapter sets no construction hours window. Section 6.28.040(12) exempts sounds created by…
Read full rule →Barking Dogs
Rules about excessive or continuous dog barking, including how complaints are filed, time-of-day limits, and penalties for owners.
Auburn
Some RestrictionsAuburn makes it unlawful for a dog, cat or other animal's owner or custodian to let the animal habitually howl, yelp…
Read full rule →Bellingham
Some RestrictionsBellingham makes it a civil infraction, punishable by up to a $250 fine, to harbor or keep a dog whose frequent or…
Read full rule →Benton County
Some RestrictionsBenton County's public nuisance noise ordinance expressly names continuous or repeated dog barking as a public nuisance…
Read full rule →Chelan County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Chelan County, a dog that habitually howls, yelps or barks and annoys or disturbs the peace and quiet…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsA dog that barks, bays, cries or howls continuously for 10 minutes, or intermittently for a half hour or more, to the…
Read full rule →Cowlitz County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Cowlitz County, an animal that habitually barks, howls or yelps for 30 minutes or more between 9:00…
Read full rule →Edmonds
Some RestrictionsEdmonds City Code 5.05.115 makes it a public nuisance for an animal to bark, howl, yelp, or whine enough to disturb a…
Read full rule →Everett
Some RestrictionsEverett bans knowingly letting a pet's frequent, continuous or repetitive barking or noise unreasonably disturb the…
Read full rule →Grant County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Grant County bans keeping or harboring any animal, including dogs, whose frequent or repetitive…
Read full rule →Grays Harbor County
Some RestrictionsGrays Harbor County makes it unlawful for a dog owner to let a dog bark, howl or make other loud noise that disturbs…
Read full rule →Island County
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code § 6.08.130 makes it unlawful for a dog's owner or keeper to allow frequent or habitual barking…
Read full rule →Kennewick
Some RestrictionsKennewick makes it unlawful for an owner to let a dog or other animal bark, howl, or make noise that's audible off the…
Read full rule →Kent
Some RestrictionsFrequent, repetitive, or continuous barking or howling that disturbs a reasonable person's peace is a public…
Read full rule →King County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated King County, a pet making noise to an unreasonable degree that disturbs a person or neighborhood is a…
Read full rule →Kirkland
Some RestrictionsKirkland declares a barking dog a public nuisance once the noise runs continuously for ten or more minutes or…
Read full rule →Kitsap County
Some RestrictionsKitsap County treats chronic barking as a civil infraction, not a free-for-all: § 7.14.030(2)(A) bans letting an…
Read full rule →Lacey
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Lacey, Washington, a pet animal that habitually or continually disturbs the peace and quiet of any…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood treats habitual howling, yelping or barking that unreasonably disturbs a neighbor as a code violation under…
Read full rule →Lewis County
Some RestrictionsLewis County holds an owner strictly liable if their animal habitually barks, howls or makes noise that disturbs the…
Read full rule →Lynnwood
Some RestrictionsLynnwood, Washington makes it a noise disturbance to own, keep, possess or harbor an animal that frequently or…
Read full rule →Marysville
Some RestrictionsMarysville treats frequent, repetitive, or continuous animal noise that disturbs neighbors as a public nuisance, though…
Read full rule →Mason County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Mason County, a dog or other animal that habitually howls, barks, yelps or makes other prolonged…
Read full rule →Olympia
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Olympia, Washington, a pet animal that habitually or continually disturbs the peace and quiet of any…
Read full rule →Pasco
Some RestrictionsA Pasco animal violates the noise ordinance if it can be heard continuously inside a structure off the owner's property…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Pierce County, PCC 8.72.090.A makes it a public disturbance noise for frequent, repetitive, or…
Read full rule →Port Townsend
Some RestrictionsPort Townsend treats frequent or continuous barking, howling, yelping, or whining as a public disturbance noise under…
Read full rule →Renton
Some RestrictionsRenton bans keeping any dog, cat or other animal that habitually howls, yelps, barks or makes other frequent, long or…
Read full rule →Richland
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Richland, Washington, RMC § 7.03.340 makes it unlawful to let an animal cause prolonged or habitual…
Read full rule →Sammamish
Some RestrictionsSammamish adopts King County's animal nuisance definition, naming a dog that 'howls, yelps, whines, barks or makes…
Read full rule →Seattle
Some RestrictionsSMC 25.08.500.A makes loud, frequent, repetitive, or continuous animal noise an unlawful 'public disturbance noise' in…
Read full rule →Shoreline
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Shoreline, a dog, cat or other domesticated animal that makes frequent, repetitive or continuous noise…
Read full rule →Skagit County
Some RestrictionsSkagit County makes it unlawful for an owner to knowingly, recklessly or negligently let an animal make frequent…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsFrequent, repetitive or continuous animal noise that disturbs neighbors in a rural or residential district is a public…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Spokane County makes it unlawful for a dog owner to let their dog howl, whine, or bark so as to…
Read full rule →Thurston County
Some RestrictionsThurston County makes a "nuisance pet animal" a code violation: Section 9.10.030 defines the term as a pet that…
Read full rule →Vancouver
Some RestrictionsVancouver, Washington makes it unlawful to let a dog bark, bay, cry or howl continuously for ten minutes or more, or…
Read full rule →Walla Walla County
Some RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code § 9.20.050(F) makes it a public disturbance noise for any animal on a property to make…
Read full rule →Whatcom County
Some RestrictionsWhatcom County treats prolonged barking as a nuisance infraction: WCC 6.04.060(E) makes it unlawful for a dog's owner…
Read full rule →Yakima
Some RestrictionsYakima bans habitual dog barking, growling, yelping, howling or whining lasting 15 minutes or more once a verified…
Read full rule →Yakima County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Yakima County, keeping a dog that habitually barks, growls, yelps, howls or whines loudly enough to…
Read full rule →Burien
Light RestrictionsIn the City of Burien, Washington, § 7.30.180 bars any person from permitting a dog or other pet or domestic animal to…
Read full rule →Franklin County
Light RestrictionsFranklin County has no countywide ordinance against a barking dog in a residential neighborhood: the general noise law…
Read full rule →Puyallup
Light RestrictionsA dog whose frequent, repetitive or continuous barking unreasonably disturbs a neighbor's peace, comfort or repose is a…
Read full rule →Spokane Valley
Light RestrictionsSpokane Valley's citywide noise ordinance specifically excludes dog barking from its coverage, pointing instead to the…
Read full rule →Leaf Blower Rules
Restrictions on leaf blowers, including permitted hours, decibel caps, and the growing set of cities phasing out or banning gas-powered blowers outright.
Auburn
Some RestrictionsAuburn restricts noisy yard equipment, lawnmowers, powered hand tools and snow removal machines, used for homeowner…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsClark County has no leaf-blower-specific ban. Leaf blowers fall under the ground-maintenance power-equipment exemption…
Read full rule →Everett
Some RestrictionsEverett exempts noise from powered yard and maintenance equipment, including leaf blowers, from its nuisance noise…
Read full rule →Kirkland
Some RestrictionsKirkland treats power equipment, including leaf blowers, as a public nuisance if operated before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood, Washington restricts noise from lawnmowers, powered hand tools like leaf blowers, snow removal equipment and…
Read full rule →Lynnwood
Some RestrictionsLynnwood, Washington bars leaf blowers, saws, drills and other powered lawn and garden equipment used outdoors in…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsSnohomish County has no daytime leaf-blower ban, but operating a leaf blower, saw, drill, sander, grinder, fan, garden…
Read full rule →Thurston County
Some RestrictionsThurston County exempts yard maintenance equipment, including leaf blowers, from its noise limits only between 7 a.m…
Read full rule →Yakima County
Light RestrictionsYakima County exempts sounds created by lawn and garden equipment from its noise chapter from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m…
Read full rule →Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Rules for loudspeakers, live bands, DJ equipment, and outdoor music at homes, venues, and events, decibel limits, permitted hours, and when an amplified-sound permit is required.
Bellevue
Significant RestrictionsRunning amplified music or sound equipment in Bellevue needs a development-services director permit filed at least a…
Read full rule →Kennewick
Significant RestrictionsKennewick treats amplified musical instruments, sound systems, and band or social-gathering noise as regulated nuisance…
Read full rule →Lynnwood
Significant RestrictionsLynnwood bans loudspeakers and amplifiers outright in residential-zoned districts under LMC 10.12.300(D). Anywhere…
Read full rule →Tacoma
Significant RestrictionsTacoma parks require a permit for public address systems and musical acts; permitted bands and performers are capped at…
Read full rule →Thurston County
Significant RestrictionsThurston County requires a permit before holding any outdoor music festival outside city limits, with mandatory…
Read full rule →Auburn
Some RestrictionsAuburn caps audio volume from vehicle stereos and portable audio equipment such as radios and CD players at whatever is…
Read full rule →Bellingham
Some RestrictionsBellingham bans amplified and portable audio loud enough to be heard beyond 50 feet from its source, plus late-night…
Read full rule →Benton County
Some RestrictionsBenton County has no decibel meter for amplified music; instead BCC 6A.15.040 bans any public nuisance noise, amplified…
Read full rule →Bothell
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Bothell, Washington, amplified music and audio equipment become a public nuisance when the sound is…
Read full rule →Burien
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Burien, Washington, BMC § 9.105.410 makes it unlawful to cause or allow a public disturbance noise, and…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsOutdoor music, live bands and PA systems fall under Clark County's public disturbance noise rule: loud or raucous…
Read full rule →Cowlitz County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Cowlitz County, CCC § 10.25.040(A)(6) bars sound amplifiers on public streets for commercial…
Read full rule →Edmonds
Some RestrictionsEdmonds bans loud, repetitive amplified music and sound-equipment noise that disturbs neighbors under ECC 5.30.130(C)…
Read full rule →Everett
Some RestrictionsEverett bars frequent, repetitive or continuous sound from audio equipment, musical instruments, band sessions and…
Read full rule →Federal Way
Some RestrictionsFederal Way bars using a radio, loudspeaker, musical instrument, or any device that reproduces sound audible more than…
Read full rule →Franklin County
Some RestrictionsPlaying a radio, car stereo, musical instrument or amplifier in a residential area of unincorporated Franklin County so…
Read full rule →Grant County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Grant County treats frequent, repetitive or continuous sounds from musical instruments, TVs, stereos…
Read full rule →Island County
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code § 9.60.030(A)(6)-(7) bans sound from motor vehicle audio systems and from tape players, radios, or…
Read full rule →King County
Some RestrictionsLoud, repetitive band sessions and amplified outdoor music in unincorporated King County are unlawful "public…
Read full rule →Kirkland
Some RestrictionsKirkland bans musical instruments, band sessions and audio sound systems in buildings or on watercraft when they…
Read full rule →Kitsap County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Kitsap County, sound amplifiers, band sessions, tavern music and portable audio equipment count as…
Read full rule →Lacey
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Lacey, Washington, it is a misdemeanor to willfully cause or allow sound from property, a motor vehicle…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood, Washington bans amplified sound, loudspeakers, music or other audio equipment played loud enough to carry…
Read full rule →Lewis County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Lewis County restricts amplified sound from buildings, band sessions and audio systems to daytime hours…
Read full rule →Marysville
Some RestrictionsMarysville Municipal Code § 6.76.060(5) makes it a public nuisance to run a sound amplifier or similar device on public…
Read full rule →Mason County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Mason County restricts amplified sound used to sell or advertise on public streets. Code Section…
Read full rule →Olympia
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Olympia, Washington, OMC § 9.16.020(D) makes it disorderly conduct when motor vehicle audio or portable…
Read full rule →Pasco
Some RestrictionsPasco bars amplified music, sound amplifiers, and similar devices from being audible in a residential district between…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Pierce County, outdoor amplified music, band sessions, and social-gathering noise are barred by PCC…
Read full rule →Port Townsend
Some RestrictionsPort Townsend treats loud outdoor music and amplified sound as a public disturbance noise violation, enforced complaint…
Read full rule →Puyallup
Some RestrictionsPuyallup bars business sound amplifiers, loudspeakers, and pagers from being audible beyond the property line. Under…
Read full rule →Renton
Some RestrictionsRenton bans sound amplifiers used on public streets for commercial advertising, and separately makes loud or raucous…
Read full rule →Richland
Some RestrictionsThe City of Richland, Washington treats amplified music and sound-amplifier noise as a public disturbance under…
Read full rule →Sammamish
Some RestrictionsSammamish Municipal Code § 8.15.020 makes it a public nuisance to run audio equipment, radios, tape players or public…
Read full rule →Seattle
Some RestrictionsOutdoor concerts and amplified performances on Seattle public property are capped at a 95 dB(A) one-minute average…
Read full rule →Shoreline
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Shoreline, playing a radio, stereo, or other audio equipment loud enough to be heard more than 50 feet…
Read full rule →Skagit County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Skagit County bans audio systems, radios, amplifiers and speakers from being audible more than 150 feet…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsAmplified music heard inside a neighbor's home, or outdoors 75 feet or more from its source in a commercial, rural or…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Spokane County outlaws sounds from a radio, television, musical instrument or sound amplifier that annoy…
Read full rule →Spokane Valley
Some RestrictionsSpokane Valley treats a radio, musical instrument, or sound amplifier that repeatedly or continuously disturbs a…
Read full rule →Vancouver
Some RestrictionsIn Vancouver, Washington, amplified music becomes a misdemeanor public disturbance when it unreasonably disturbs the…
Read full rule →Walla Walla County
Some RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code § 9.20.030 caps ambient sound by district, from 49 dB(A) rural-to-rural up to 70 dB(A)…
Read full rule →Whatcom County
Some RestrictionsWhatcom County has no fixed decibel or curfew limit for amplified sound. WCC § 9.40.010 instead bans any loud or…
Read full rule →Yakima
Some RestrictionsYakima limits amplified outdoor music and entertainment at permitted special events to the hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m…
Read full rule →Yakima County
Some RestrictionsYakima County has no decibel limit for amplified music. Section 6.28.030 bars any sound plainly audible inside a…
Read full rule →Aircraft Noise
Local regulations related to noise from airports, flight paths, and helicopter operations near residential areas.
Washington: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsAircraft noise in Washington is preempted by federal aviation law, and the state expressly excludes aircraft in flight…
Read full rule →Grant County
Significant RestrictionsGrant County's Airport Safety Overlay (ASO) zoning district restricts new buildings and outdoor uses near Grant County…
Read full rule →Renton
Significant RestrictionsRenton bans new noise-sensitive uses inside the 65 DNL noise contour around Renton Municipal Airport and requires…
Read full rule →Bellingham
Some RestrictionsBellingham requires aircraft flying over the city to stay above 1,000 feet, a rule adopted specifically to minimize…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood, Washington requires extra sound insulation in new buildings inside the Clear Zone and Air Corridor 1/2…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Some RestrictionsNew homes and other residential structures built inside Fairchild Air Force Base's Military Influence Area 3/4 must…
Read full rule →Yakima
Some RestrictionsDevelopment in Yakima's airport overlay Zone 4A must record a deed declaration acknowledging aircraft noise, vibration…
Read full rule →Franklin County
Light RestrictionsFranklin County's noise ordinance exempts aircraft-in-flight and airport flight-operation sounds outright under §…
Read full rule →Island County
Light RestrictionsIsland County does not cap aircraft noise; Chapter 9.44 instead maps 'airport noise zones' around military and civilian…
Read full rule →Pasco
Light RestrictionsPasco requires a recorded disclosure statement on plats near the Tri-Cities Airport warning buyers of aircraft noise…
Read full rule →Bellevue
Few RestrictionsBellevue's noise ordinance flatly exempts sounds from aircraft in flight, so flight noise over the city, whether from…
Read full rule →Cowlitz County
Few RestrictionsCowlitz County's noise code does not restrict aircraft: CCC § 10.25.050(A)(1) exempts 'sounds that originate from…
Read full rule →Edmonds
Few RestrictionsEdmonds' noise control ordinance exempts sounds from aircraft in flight from the city's maximum permissible sound level…
Read full rule →Everett
Few RestrictionsEverett's noise ordinance does not regulate aircraft noise. EMC 20.08.100(A)(1) exempts noise from aircraft in flight…
Read full rule →Kent
Few RestrictionsKent's noise code completely exempts aircraft noise from regulation: sound from aircraft in flight and sound…
Read full rule →King County
Few RestrictionsIn unincorporated King County, noise from aircraft and helicopters in flight, plus airport flight operations, is fully…
Read full rule →Lynnwood
Few RestrictionsLynnwood exempts aircraft noise from its environmental noise limits. Sounds from aircraft in flight and airport sounds…
Read full rule →Mason County
Few RestrictionsUnincorporated Mason County does not regulate aircraft noise under its local decibel table. Code Section 9.36.100(2)…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Few RestrictionsAircraft noise is exempt from Pierce County's noise code. PCC 8.76.070.D.2 exempts sounds from aircraft in flight and…
Read full rule →Puyallup
Few RestrictionsPuyallup's noise code doesn't regulate aircraft. PMC § 6.16.060(1)(a) exempts 'noise originating from aircraft in…
Read full rule →Richland
Few RestrictionsIn the City of Richland, Washington, sounds from aircraft in flight and airport flight operations are exempt from the…
Read full rule →Shoreline
Few RestrictionsSMC § 9.05.060(A)(11) exempts "sounds originating from aircraft in flight" from every provision of Shoreline's noise…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Few RestrictionsAircraft noise gets a blanket pass under Snohomish County's noise ordinance: SCC 10.01.050(1)(a) exempts all sounds…
Read full rule →Spokane Valley
Few RestrictionsAircraft noise is carved out of Spokane Valley's residential noise-nuisance rule entirely. SVMC § 7.05.040(K)(2)(c)…
Read full rule →Tacoma
Few RestrictionsTacoma's noise ordinance exempts aircraft operations outright: helicopter and airplane noise isn't subject to the…
Read full rule →Walla Walla County
Few RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code exempts aircraft entirely from its noise chapter: § 9.20.060(A) excuses sounds from aircraft in…
Read full rule →Decibel Limits
The decibel thresholds cities enforce, usually as a table by zone and time of day, residential, commercial, and industrial limits, how noise is measured, and what happens at the property line.
Washington: statewide
StatewideHeavy RestrictionsIndustrial sources in Washington must comply with EDNA limits set by WAC 173-60, with the receiving residential zone…
Read full rule →Auburn
Some RestrictionsAuburn caps operational noise from battery energy storage systems (BESS) measured at the property line by zone: 60…
Read full rule →Bellevue
Some RestrictionsBellevue caps sound crossing a property line at 55 to 70 dBA depending on the noise source's and receiving property's…
Read full rule →Bellingham
Some RestrictionsBellingham caps mechanical equipment noise at 55 decibels near property lines in residential single and multi-family…
Read full rule →Benton County
Some RestrictionsBenton County's only local decibel standard is tied to home occupation permits: BCC 11.49.030(e) caps noise from a…
Read full rule →Burien
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Burien, Washington, residential neighborhoods cannot be subjected to adverse land uses, activities or…
Read full rule →Chelan County
Some RestrictionsIn the Peshastin Urban Growth Area of unincorporated Chelan County, Code § 11.22.040(6)(C) caps noise from any use…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsIndustrial noise reaching a Clark County residence is capped by WAC 173-60-040 at 60 dBA (45 dBA drop does not apply to…
Read full rule →Edmonds
Some RestrictionsEdmonds caps sound at the property line using a district-to-district table: noise crossing from a residential source…
Read full rule →Everett
Some RestrictionsEverett limits noise from District III industrial and agricultural zones (AG, LI, HI, WRM) to 60 dB(A) reaching…
Read full rule →Federal Way
Some RestrictionsFWRC 7.10.050 adopts the state's maximum environmental noise levels under the Noise Control Act, Chapter 70.107 RCW and…
Read full rule →Grays Harbor County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Grays Harbor County sets no decibel table of its own. Instead, Section 9.12.010(B) of the county code…
Read full rule →Island County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Island County's numeric noise standard isn't a property-line nuisance limit; it's a construction rule…
Read full rule →Kennewick
Some RestrictionsKennewick's EDNA noise table caps industrial-zone sound crossing a property line at 70 dBA between industrial parcels…
Read full rule →Kent
Some RestrictionsKent caps noise crossing onto a neighbor's property using a zone-based table: KCC 8.05.090 sets limits from 55 dBA…
Read full rule →King County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated King County limits industrial-source sound to 70 dB(A) reaching other industrial land, tapering to 65…
Read full rule →Kitsap County
Some RestrictionsKitsap County Code § 10.28.040 sets numeric decibel ceilings by Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement (EDNA)…
Read full rule →Lacey
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Lacey, Washington, Lacey Municipal Code § 16.57.030 caps noise at the receiving property using Table…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood, Washington's only numeric decibel standard for residential noise applies specifically to home occupations run…
Read full rule →Lynnwood
Some RestrictionsLynnwood caps environmental noise at the receiving property line using an EDNA classification system: 55 to 70 dBA…
Read full rule →Marysville
Some RestrictionsMarysville sorts every property into three noise zones, called EDNA classes, under Marysville Municipal Code §…
Read full rule →Mason County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Mason County, Washington, every property carries an Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement…
Read full rule →Olympia
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Olympia, Washington, OMC 18.40.080(B) ties noise limits to Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement…
Read full rule →Pasco
Some RestrictionsPasco caps outdoor noise by matching the EDNA (Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement) class of the source to…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Some RestrictionsFor most industrial noise, Pierce County defers to the State. PCC 8.72.120.D states that, apart from motor vehicles…
Read full rule →Port Townsend
Some RestrictionsPort Townsend adopts Washington's WAC 173-60 environmental noise limits, setting decibel ceilings that vary by zone…
Read full rule →Renton
Some RestrictionsRenton sets its numeric decibel ceilings by adopting the state's environmental noise rules wholesale: the zone-based…
Read full rule →Richland
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Richland, Washington, RMC § 9.16.045 limits noise by time and district rather than by a decibel meter…
Read full rule →Seattle
Some RestrictionsSeattle sets numeric exterior noise limits by zoning district under SMC 25.08.410 Table A, ranging from 55 dB(A)…
Read full rule →Shoreline
Some RestrictionsSMC § 9.05.040's Table 1 caps how much sound may cross into another property: a Class A (residential) EDNA may receive…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsIndustrial-source noise received on residential property in unincorporated Snohomish County is capped at 60 dB(A)…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Some RestrictionsIndustrial and commercial noise reaching homes in Spokane County is governed by WAC 173-60. An industrial (Class C)…
Read full rule →Tacoma
Some RestrictionsTacoma caps how much a continuous sound can raise noise above the existing ambient level at a neighboring property: 10…
Read full rule →Thurston County
Some RestrictionsThurston County caps industrial and commercial noise at the property line using Washington's state EDNA noise classes…
Read full rule →Vancouver
Some RestrictionsVancouver, Washington caps environmental noise at the property line of the receiving property, using a table keyed to…
Read full rule →Walla Walla County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Walla Walla County caps sound crossing property lines by district under Walla Walla County Code Section…
Read full rule →Whatcom County
Some RestrictionsWCC § 20.80.620 bars any development in unincorporated Whatcom County from exceeding the maximum environmental noise…
Read full rule →Yakima
Some RestrictionsYakima's public disturbance noise ordinance skips decibel meters: YMC § 6.04.180 instead bans sound that is "plainly…
Read full rule →Vehicle Noise
Rules about loud vehicle exhaust, modified mufflers, racing engines, and stereos audible at distance. Covers what officers measure and typical fines.
Richland
Heavy RestrictionsIn the City of Richland, Washington, using engine brakes, exhaust brakes, or jake brakes anywhere within city limits is…
Read full rule →Tacoma
Heavy RestrictionsTacoma bans motor vehicle compression ('Jake') brakes citywide except in genuine emergencies, and separately caps…
Read full rule →Bellingham
Significant RestrictionsBellingham makes it unlawful to run a car stereo audible beyond 50 feet or to use compression engine brakes (Jake…
Read full rule →Grays Harbor County
Significant RestrictionsIn unincorporated Grays Harbor County, using a truck's compression brake, a jake brake, is banned on five specific road…
Read full rule →Kitsap County
Significant RestrictionsUnincorporated Kitsap County bans unmuffled engine compression ("Jake") brakes outright and treats a car stereo audible…
Read full rule →Sammamish
Significant RestrictionsLoud car stereos and unmuffled engine noise are a public nuisance in Sammamish. City code bars motor-vehicle audio or…
Read full rule →Yakima
Significant RestrictionsYakima outlaws unnecessarily loud vehicle noise from sudden starts, stops, exhaust or a bad muffler, and separately…
Read full rule →Auburn
Some RestrictionsAuburn bans frequent or continuous horn and siren sounds except danger warnings, disruptive engine starting, repair…
Read full rule →Bellevue
Some RestrictionsBellevue treats a car stereo audible 75 feet away or across a property line as a noise disturbance under Chapter 9.18…
Read full rule →Bothell
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Bothell, Washington, motor vehicle noise is regulated three ways: BMC 8.26.080 adopts the state…
Read full rule →Burien
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Burien, Washington, Burien Municipal Code § 9.105.410 makes vehicle horns, engine testing, car stereos…
Read full rule →Chelan County
Some RestrictionsEvery vehicle operated in unincorporated Chelan County must have a working noise-muffling device under Chelan County…
Read full rule →Clark County
Some RestrictionsFrequent horn honking, and frequent engine noise from starting, operating, repairing or testing motor vehicles in a…
Read full rule →Cowlitz County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Cowlitz County requires every motor vehicle to run a working muffler at all times and bans cutout or…
Read full rule →Edmonds
Some RestrictionsEdmonds bans operating a motor vehicle whose exhaust exceeds the sound levels for its vehicle category, tested at 20…
Read full rule →Everett
Some RestrictionsEverett requires every motor vehicle on a public highway to run a working muffler and exhaust system at all times, bans…
Read full rule →Federal Way
Some RestrictionsFederal Way bans excessive vehicle noise under FWRC 7.10.020: unnecessary horn or siren blasts, revving or repairing an…
Read full rule →Franklin County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Franklin County, a car stereo, portable audio device, sound amplifier, whistle or internal-combustion…
Read full rule →Grant County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Grant County, § 6.24.020 bans motor vehicles without a working muffler and stereo systems audible…
Read full rule →Island County
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code § 9.60.030(A)(3) bars frequent, repetitive, or continuous noise between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m…
Read full rule →Kennewick
Some RestrictionsKennewick requires working mufflers, bans amplified exhaust and audible car stereos beyond 50 feet, and restricts jake…
Read full rule →Kent
Some RestrictionsKent outlaws motor vehicle sound systems loud enough to be heard 50 feet away, a $150 traffic infraction under KCC…
Read full rule →King County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated King County it is unlawful to drive, or let anyone else drive, a motor vehicle on public highways…
Read full rule →Kirkland
Some RestrictionsKirkland's public disturbance ordinance bans frequent or continuous vehicle horns and sirens except as safety warnings…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood, Washington's noise ordinance makes three kinds of vehicle sound a public disturbance: repeated repair or…
Read full rule →Lewis County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Lewis County, Chapter 10.27 bans compression brake ("Jake brake") use between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00…
Read full rule →Lynnwood
Some RestrictionsLynnwood, Washington requires every motor vehicle exhaust to run through a working muffler and bans stereo or radio…
Read full rule →Marysville
Some RestrictionsMarysville Municipal Code § 6.76.070(1) bars operating a motor vehicle on any public highway in violation of the state…
Read full rule →Mason County
Some RestrictionsMason County requires every motor vehicle on public highways to run a working exhaust system and muffler under Section…
Read full rule →Olympia
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Olympia, Washington, OMC § 8.32.080 requires every motor vehicle on public highways to carry a muffler…
Read full rule →Pasco
Some RestrictionsPasco bans car stereo sound audible more than 75 feet from the vehicle and exhaust noise from any engine lacking a…
Read full rule →Pierce County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Pierce County, PCC 8.72.090.H makes it unlawful for a car or vessel sound system to be clearly heard…
Read full rule →Port Townsend
Some RestrictionsPort Townsend treats a sound system played from a moving vehicle as a public disturbance noise once it is audible more…
Read full rule →Puyallup
Some RestrictionsPuyallup requires every motor vehicle on public highways to carry a working exhaust system and muffler that prevents…
Read full rule →Renton
Some RestrictionsRenton regulates vehicle exhaust and stereo noise through two tracks: it adopts the state's WAC motor vehicle noise…
Read full rule →Seattle
Some RestrictionsSeattle requires every motor vehicle to run a working muffler at all times and bans muffler cut-outs and bypasses on…
Read full rule →Shoreline
Some RestrictionsSMC § 9.05.050 bars operating a motor vehicle on Shoreline's public highways in violation of the state's WAC 173-62-030…
Read full rule →Snohomish County
Some RestrictionsSnohomish County treats unmuffled exhaust, frequent engine testing near homes, and loud car stereos or horns as public…
Read full rule →Spokane County
Some RestrictionsMotor-vehicle noise in Spokane County is governed by statewide standards in WAC 173-62, not the county noise ordinance…
Read full rule →Spokane Valley
Some RestrictionsSpokane Valley draws a hard line on car stereo noise: SVMC § 9.30.050 bans any vehicle audio system, tape deck, radio…
Read full rule →Thurston County
Some RestrictionsThurston County requires every motor vehicle on a county highway to run a muffler in good working order at all times…
Read full rule →Vancouver
Some RestrictionsVancouver, Washington bans unmuffled engine compression brakes, also called exhaust brakes or jake brakes, anywhere…
Read full rule →Walla Walla County
Some RestrictionsWalla Walla County Code § 9.20.050(A), (B) and (G) ban frequent honking or sirens except as warnings, loud starting…
Read full rule →