Daytime hours have been added to address unreasonable daytime noise resulting from amplified sound in residential neighborhoods

City Council approved a change to a current ordinance about unreasonable noise at a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 1, effective immediately. Currently, BRC 5-9-6 Unreasonable Noise Prohibited Between the Hours of 11 p.m. Through 7 a.m. prohibits amplified sound from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and uses the measurement of 100 or more feet beyond the property line where the loudspeakers are located in a residential district.

The change expands the noise ordinance by adding daytime hours, 7 a.m. through 11 p.m. with a measurement of 200 or more feet beyond the property line of the property where the loudspeakers are located in a residential district. The changes do not apply to commercial areas.

The different measurement reflects the different expectations of daytime noise. This change is meant to address unreasonable daytime noise resulting from amplified sound in residential neighborhoods throughout the city. This does not impact other noise-related code, such as that found in BRC 5-9-3 Exceeding Decibel Sound Levels Prohibited. Daytime noise is already a violation under this ordinance.

“The changes to the ordinance provide an objective way to enforce a violation – through a measure of distance. Current ordinances that govern daytime noise require a decibel reader and special officer training,” said Deputy City Attorney Sandra Llanes. “We also wanted to provide an option to enforce a violation without a complaint call to relieve some pressure off neighbors who experience loud amplified noise during the day.”

For more information on the noise ordinance changes, visit BeHeardBoulder.org. For questions or to report a noise violation, visit Inquire Boulder or call Police non-emergency dispatch at 303-441-3333.

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