The Sedona noise ordinance, codified at Chapter 8.25 of the Sedona City Code, caps sound at 60 dBA during the day and 50 dBA at night in residential zones, allows up to 65 dBA in commercial districts, and sets quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.1Sedona City Code. Chapter 8.25 – Noise Regulations Violations can be enforced by a sound-level meter reading at the property line or under a “plainly audible” standard, and repeat offenses can escalate from civil citations to a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Quiet Hours and Daytime Limits
The strictest window runs from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. During those hours the residential cap sits at 50 dBA, and any sound crossing a property boundary that would disturb a reasonable person is treated as a violation. The rule applies the same way to permanent residents and short-term rental guests.
Outside quiet hours, ordinary daytime activity is expected: lawn care, deliveries, moderate music. The 60 dBA residential cap still applies, though. For reference, 60 dBA is roughly the volume of a normal conversation, so anything louder than that reaching a neighbor’s yard can put you in violation territory even in the middle of the afternoon.
Sedona also enforces a “plainly audible” standard alongside the decibel caps. If amplified music, a running generator, or a barking dog can be clearly heard by a person with normal hearing on a neighboring property, that alone can support a citation without any meter reading. Officers can rely on whichever standard is easier to establish on the scene.
Short-Term Rental Noise Rules
Short-term rentals get extra scrutiny. Under Section 5.25.050 of the city code, every short-term rental must comply with all local noise laws, and the code specifically prohibits any activity that creates a substantial disturbance of the quiet enjoyment and peace of surrounding properties, including excessive noise, unruly gatherings, and nuisance parties.2Sedona City Code. Sedona Code 5.25.050 – Use Regulations
Owners cannot sidestep responsibility by being offsite. The code states that an owner’s designee failing to comply does not relieve the owner of liability.2Sedona City Code. Sedona Code 5.25.050 – Use Regulations If guests throw a loud party at 11 PM, the owner faces citations and fines along with them. Repeated complaints can also jeopardize the property’s short-term rental permit, a far more expensive consequence than any single fine.
Construction Hours
Construction operates under its own section of the code, Section 8.25.050. The city amended this provision in early 2026 through Ordinance 2026-03, so older online sources may be out of date.3City of Sedona. Ordinances Before the amendment, construction was generally permitted between 7:00 AM and 6:30 PM Monday through Saturday, with a blanket prohibition on Sundays and major holidays.
Because the full text of the 2026 amendment may not yet be reflected across all code databases, anyone planning construction work should contact the Sedona Community Development Department to confirm current permitted hours. Getting this wrong can trigger work-stop orders and fines, and construction violations are easy to document.
What the Ordinance Does Not Cover
Section 8.25.040 lists sounds that fall outside the standard restrictions.1Sedona City Code. Chapter 8.25 – Noise Regulations The common exemptions:
- Sirens on ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles, permitted at any time regardless of decibel levels.
- Emergency utility repairs needed to restore essential services like water or electricity.
- Parades, festivals, and other events with an official city permit, which receive temporary exemptions from the decibel caps.
- Aircraft noise, which falls outside the city’s jurisdiction entirely and is governed by federal law.
These exemptions are narrow. A landscaping company running leaf blowers at 6 AM does not qualify, and a bar cannot claim its live music is a “permitted event” without actually holding a city-issued noise exemption permit. On aircraft specifically: helicopter and airplane noise is preempted by federal law, so complaints about flight paths, altitudes, or operating hours have to go to the FAA or the airport operator rather than the city.
Penalties for Violations
A first offense typically results in a civil citation and fine. Repeat violations within a defined timeframe can be escalated to a Class 1 misdemeanor under Arizona law, which carries up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.4Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 13-707 – Misdemeanors; Sentencing5Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 13-802 – Fines for Misdemeanors For short-term rentals, the permit itself can be at risk on top of any individual penalty.
How to Report a Noise Complaint
The channel depends on what kind of noise it is.
- General noise complaints go to the Sedona Police Department’s non-emergency line at (928) 282-3100. A responding officer may use a sound-level meter or the plainly audible standard to determine whether a violation occurred.6City of Sedona. Police Department
- Short-term rental noise has a dedicated 24/7 hotline at (928) 203-5110, operated in partnership with the third-party vendor LODGINGRevs. Complaints can also be submitted through the online incident reporting form on the city’s short-term rental page.7City of Sedona. Sedona Opens Short Term Rental Hotline
- Chronic or ongoing problems that aren’t one-night emergencies go to the Code Enforcement Division at (928) 203-5000, City Hall at 102 Roadrunner Drive, or through the Sedona Citizens Connect app.8City of Sedona. Code Enforcement
Specific details help. Note the exact address, the time the noise started, and the type of sound. “Loud bass music from 123 Oak Street starting at 11:15 PM” gives an officer something to act on in a way that “my neighbors are noisy” does not.