City of Spokane Noise Ordinance: Quiet Hours, Decibel Limits, and Fines

Spokane’s noise ordinance, found in Chapter 10.70 of the Spokane Municipal Code, caps outdoor sound based on the zoning of both the source and the receiving property, drops those limits by 10 decibels overnight in residential areas, and separately bans certain “plainly audible” disturbances like loud stereos, barking dogs, and amplified gatherings. The police department enforces it, and violations can run from a warning on the doorstep to a misdemeanor charge carrying fines up to $5,000.

Decibel Limits by Zone

Spokane uses the three-tier framework from Washington’s state noise rules, dividing all property into Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement (EDNA) classes. The maximum sound level depends on where the noise comes from and where it lands.¹

Class A, residential: 55 dBA when source and receiver are both residential.
Class B, commercial, office, and retail: 60 dBA when source and receiver are both commercial.
Class C, industrial: 70 dBA when source and receiver are both industrial.

Cross-zone noise is treated more strictly. A commercial source sending sound into a residential neighborhood is capped at 57 dBA, and an industrial source reaching a residential area is capped at 60 dBA. When the receiving property sits in more than one zone classification, the most noise-sensitive zone sets the limit.¹

Measurement happens at the boundary of the receiving property, not next to the source. A compressor reading 65 dBA at the machine might comply at the fence line, or might not, depending on distance, terrain, and any barriers in between.¹

The code tolerates brief peaks. A source can exceed its cap by 5 dBA for up to 15 minutes per hour, by 10 dBA for up to 5 minutes, or by 15 dBA for up to 1.5 minutes, which keeps cycling equipment and accelerating trucks from triggering technical violations every few seconds.¹

Quiet Hours Between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., every decibel cap for a receiving property in a Class A residential zone drops by 10 dBA. Residential-to-residential noise falls to 45 dBA overnight. Commercial-to-residential drops to 47 dBA. Those are quiet thresholds, closer to a whispered conversation than ordinary speech.¹

Live music and DJ systems don’t get a daytime pass. City code enforcement guidance states that noise restrictions apply to those sources at all hours.²

Prohibited Sounds You Can Be Cited For Without a Meter

SMC 10.70.090 bans specific “public disturbance” noises outright when they are plainly audible across a property boundary or at 50 feet from the source, whichever is shorter. No sound-level meter required; an officer’s own hearing is the test.

From private property, that includes:

Vehicle horns, alarms, and sirens that sound frequently, repetitively, or continuously, unless warning of actual danger.
Emergency warning devices triggered outdoors with no real emergency, with exemptions for routine testing and maintenance.
Motor vehicle operation, repair, and testing, including motorcycles and off-highway vehicles, when the sound is frequent or continuous.
Audio equipment, televisions, musical instruments, and social gatherings producing frequent or continuous sound.
Vehicle stereos and speakers, whether portable, stationary, or mounted.
Fireworks and blasting devices used without a permit.

The phrase “frequent, repetitive, and/or continuous” runs through the whole section. One brief sound usually won’t do it. A pattern will.³

Sound coming from a person on public property or in a public right-of-way follows a time-split rule. Overnight, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., any sound is prohibited if it’s plainly audible across a residential property boundary. During the day, the threshold is 100 feet from the source. For daytime complaints, officers consider whether the sound rattles building elements, how much bass it carries, the ambient background level, and how long it lasts. The content of what’s being played or said doesn’t factor into the violation; only volume, duration, and audibility do.³

Barking Dogs

Persistent barking is handled the same way as other residential noise. A dog that barks once at a delivery driver isn’t a violation. A dog that barks for extended stretches, plainly audible across the property line, falls under the same “frequent, repetitive, and/or continuous” standard in SMC 10.70.090.³

Animal noise complaints take persistence. Officers generally need to hear the problem themselves or see enough documented complaints to act. A log of dates, times, and duration helps if the situation escalates.

How to Report a Noise Complaint

The Spokane Police Department, not code enforcement, handles noise. That matters, because an officer essentially needs to catch the noise in progress. A call made after the party ends creates a record but won’t produce a response that night.

For most complaints, including evening disturbances, parties, vehicle noise, and barking dogs, call Crime Check at 509.456.2233. For noise from commercial or industrial equipment, file a complaint through the city’s online portal. The general city services line is 311 inside city limits, or 509.755.2489 from outside.²

Have the address of the source ready, a description of the sound, and how long it has been going. Specifics give responding officers the best chance of documenting the violation while it’s still happening.

Noise Variances for Events

If you’re planning something that will go over the normal limits, Spokane issues noise variances for large community-oriented events. Individual convenience doesn’t qualify. Apply by calling 509.755.CITY (2489) with event details, and submit at least five business days before the event date.²

Penalties for Violations

Under SMC 10.70.090, the violation becomes unlawful when a law enforcement officer orders someone to stop making a public disturbance noise and that person refuses or intentionally fails to comply.³

Unless a specific section says otherwise, municipal code violations are classified as misdemeanors. The maximum civil penalty for a code violation is $250. A misdemeanor can carry a fine up to $5,000, imprisonment up to 364 days, or both.⁴

State law adds a separate civil penalty of up to $100 for violations of the state noise regulations, imposed by the local government. That penalty is due 30 days after notice unless you appeal through the city’s administrative process, or to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board if no local appeal exists.⁵

In practice, most first calls end with a warning. An officer arrives, tells the responsible party to turn it down, and leaves. The formal penalties come into play when someone refuses to comply or draws repeated complaints.

1
City of Spokane. Spokane Municipal Code Section 10.70.070
2
City of Spokane. Common Code Questions
3
City of Spokane. Spokane Municipal Code Section 10.70.090
4
City of Spokane. Spokane Municipal Code Section 01.02.950
5
Washington State Legislature. RCW Chapter 70A.20