The Burien noise ordinance, set out in Chapter 9.105 of the Burien Municipal Code, prohibits public disturbance noise, restricts construction to 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. on weekends, and limits residential yard work to the hours between 7:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. on weekends) and 10:00 p.m. A first violation is a civil infraction with a fine of up to $250; a second or later offense is a misdemeanor.1Code Publishing Company. Burien Municipal Code – Public Peace, Crimes Relating To Washington’s state noise regulation, WAC 173-60, layers technical decibel limits on top of those local rules.
Quiet Hours at a Glance
Two sets of hours matter most to residents:
- Construction is prohibited 7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 5:00 p.m.–9:00 a.m. on weekends.
- Residential yard work (lawn mowers, powered hand tools, snow removal equipment) is prohibited 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 10:00 p.m.–9:00 a.m. on weekends.1Code Publishing Company. Burien Municipal Code – Public Peace, Crimes Relating To
Yelling and shouting on or near public streets is separately called out as a disturbance between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., and at any hour if it unreasonably disturbs neighbors.
What Counts as a Public Disturbance
Under BMC 9.105.410, you can be cited without any decibel reading. The test is whether the noise unreasonably disturbs the peace and comfort of nearby occupants. The code names several categories that automatically qualify:1Code Publishing Company. Burien Municipal Code – Public Peace, Crimes Relating To
- Repeated or continuous sounds from inside a building or apartment that disturb neighbors, including musical instruments, audio systems, band practice, and social gatherings.
- Loud yelling or shouting on or near public streets.
- Portable audio equipment — speakers, radios, and similar devices — operated off your own property at a volume audible more than 50 feet from the source.
The “unreasonably disturbs” language does real work. If the noise would bother a reasonable person, the city can pursue it.
Construction and Yard Work Are Treated Differently
Construction has the tighter schedule. Weekday work is limited to 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., and weekend work to 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The weekend window is shorter than in many neighboring jurisdictions, so plan any project involving power tools or heavy equipment around those hours.
Yard maintenance is more generous. A leaf blower at 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday is allowed. A table saw at that same hour on a Saturday is not, because it falls under the construction rule.
Motor Vehicle Noise
Burien addresses vehicle noise separately. A vehicle audio system cannot be operated at a level audible more than 50 feet from the vehicle. Repeated or continuous sounds from starting, operating, repairing, or testing a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or off-highway vehicle in a residential area qualify as a public disturbance when they unreasonably disturb neighbors — the neighbor rebuilding engines in the driveway, or the motorcycle idling for long stretches.1Code Publishing Company. Burien Municipal Code – Public Peace, Crimes Relating To
Tire squealing from rapid acceleration, hard braking, or fast cornering is prohibited unless it results from emergency maneuvering. Continuous or repeated horn and siren use is banned unless the horn is warning of danger or is otherwise required by law.
State Decibel Limits That Also Apply
WAC 173-60 sets measurable limits at the receiving property line based on the zoning of both properties. For a residential source and a residential receiver, the daytime cap is 55 dBA. A residential source received on commercial property is capped at 57 dBA, and 60 dBA when received on industrial property. Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., the state reduces the permissible levels for noise received in residential areas.
Where the local code and the state rule both apply, the stricter standard controls.
Exemptions Are Narrow
Under WAC 173-60-050, sounds from emergency equipment, work necessary for law enforcement or public safety, and officially sanctioned parades and public events are fully exempt from decibel limits at all times.2Washington State Legislature. WAC 173-60-050
BMC 9.105.420 adds two local exclusions:1Code Publishing Company. Burien Municipal Code – Public Peace, Crimes Relating To
- City-permitted special events and parks events in the designated Downtown area, between 9:00 a.m. and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Regularly scheduled park activities such as public address systems for games and park concerts, between 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.
A private backyard party with a DJ does not become exempt because it feels like a community event. Only officially permitted city and park events qualify.
Penalties
A first noise violation is a civil infraction with a fine of up to $250. A second or subsequent offense is a misdemeanor, which shifts the case from a fine to potential criminal charges. Most disputes end at the first fine, but the escalation path is available and the city can use it.
How to File a Complaint
Before contacting the city, write down the address of the source, what the sound is, when it starts and stops, and whether it is continuous or intermittent. That documentation is what enforcement staff use to identify a pattern.
Complaints go to Burien’s Code Compliance division:
- Online, through the code compliance page on the Burien website.
- By fax, using the Code Complaint Form, to (206) 248-5539.
- In person at Burien City Hall.
- By phone at (206) 248-5507.
Code compliance staff work business hours. For noise happening right now, especially late at night, the non-emergency police dispatch line gets a faster response than a written form. If the source is a neighbor and you feel safe raising it, a direct conversation often resolves the issue faster than any city process, since many people don’t realize how far sound carries from audio gear or early-morning yard tools. When that doesn’t work, the formal complaint process is what it’s there for.