Quiet hours are the times, often around 10 pm to 7 am, when a lease, an HOA or a local rule expects less noise. Many big cities don’t have one citywide quiet-hours rule. Instead they ban unreasonable noise at any time and set stricter limits for some sounds or hours.
Where quiet hours come from
Three places, and more than one can apply to you at once:
- Your city or county’s noise code. Some set hours, some set decibel limits, and many simply ban noise that is unreasonable or disturbs neighbors.
- Your lease or building rules. Many leases set their own quiet hours, often stricter than the city’s.
- Your HOA or condo rules. Community rules often include noise and nuisance clauses with set hours.
In England, the rules are national rather than city by city: councils deal with noise as a possible statutory nuisance, with extra powers at night.
Quiet doesn’t mean silent
Quiet hours don’t ban living. Footsteps, talking, a door closing or a late shower are part of sharing a building. What rules usually look at is how loud the noise is, how long it goes on, how often it happens and what time it is. Some codes put that into numbers, like a limit in decibels or a distance at which sound can be heard. Others leave it to judgment.
The rules in some big cities
A plain-English summary of the parts most relevant to neighbors, with a link to each official source. Codes have exceptions and change over time, so read the source before you rely on it.
Last checked:
New York City
No single quiet-hours rule for homes: the Noise Code targets unreasonable noise at any time. Animal noise, like barking, counts as unreasonable if it goes on for 10 minutes or more between 7 am and 10 pm, or 5 minutes or more between 10 pm and 7 am. Report noise to 311.
Source: NYC DEP, Noise Code fact sheet
Los Angeles
No set hours for music, TV or instruments: they must not disturb neighbors at any time. In residential areas, it’s a violation if the sound is audible more than 150 feet from the property line, or more than 5 decibels above the background level in a neighbor’s home or adjoining unit.
Source: LA Municipal Code §112.01
Chicago
From 10 pm to 8 am, amplified sound or music in yards and other outdoor private space must not be louder than normal conversation at 100 feet from the property line. From 8 pm to 8 am, the same limit applies to any other noise in those spaces.
Philadelphia
No separate night rule for homes. At any time, sound from a residential property must not be audible more than 100 feet beyond its boundary, or more than 3 decibels above the background level beyond the boundary, with some exceptions.
Source: Philadelphia Code §10-403
San Diego
Limits are one-hour averages at the property line. In single-family areas: 50 dB from 7 am to 7 pm, 45 dB from 7 pm to 10 pm and 40 dB from 10 pm to 7 am. Lower-density multi-family areas: 55, 50 and 45 dB. Other residential areas: 60, 55 and 50 dB.
Dallas
No set quiet hours for homes. Playing a radio, TV or musical instrument loud enough to disturb people in a home or apartment is presumed offensive at any time.
Source: Dallas City Code §30-2
London (and the rest of England)
Councils can investigate noise that may be a statutory nuisance at any time of day or night. Between 11 pm and 7 am they can also issue a warning notice for noise above a permitted level: 34 dBA, or 10 dBA above the background if the background is over 24 dBA. Contact your borough council.
We list a place only when we could read the rule on an official source. Other large cities, including Houston, Phoenix and San Antonio, have noise rules too: check their official codes. Where a rule uses decibels, officials measure with calibrated equipment. Readings from a phone or browser are approximate.
How to find the rule where you live
- Search for “noise ordinance” on your city or county’s official website, or in its official municipal code.
- Read your lease, building rules or HOA documents for a quiet-hours clause.
- Call your city’s 311 or information line, or your council, and ask how they handle neighbor noise.
If neighbors ignore quiet hours
Start small and keep a record. A friendly word or note solves more than you’d think. If it continues, keep a noise diary for a few weeks, then write to your landlord or HOA. Our complaint letter generator has letters for each step, and how to record noisy neighbors covers the evidence.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules change and have exceptions, so check your local rules.
Questions
What are typical quiet hours?
Around 10 or 11 pm to 7 or 8 am is common in leases, HOA rules and some city codes. There is no single national rule in the US or the UK, so check your lease and your local code.
Is there a law about quiet hours in apartments?
Sometimes. Many cities ban unreasonable noise at any hour rather than setting quiet hours, while leases and building rules often set their own. Your lease is the first place to look.
Can my neighbors be as loud as they like during the day?
Usually not. In many places, noise that is unreasonable or disturbs neighbors breaks the rules at any time. Quiet hours just make the limits stricter at night.
Do normal living sounds count?
Usually not on their own. Footsteps, talking, doors and running water are part of shared living. What tends to matter is how loud, how long, how often and what time it happens.
How do I find the rule where I live?
Search for your city or county’s noise ordinance on its official website or official code publisher, or call 311 or your council. In a rented home or a building with an HOA, read the lease or the community rules too.