Phoenix Noise Ordinance: Limits, Quiet Hours & How to File a Complaint

How Phoenix decides what counts as too loud

Phoenix does not set a single citywide decibel cap in Chapter 23; it lists categories of disturbing noise and gives extra weight to late-night hours.

Noise limits in Phoenix

What's specific to Phoenix

• Chapter 23 sits under Morals and Conduct rather than an environmental title, which is why it reads as a nuisance provision rather than a measurement standard.
• Third-party sites quote residential caps of 55 dBA day / 50 dBA night for Phoenix; those figures are not stated in Chapter 23 itself, so treat them with caution and check the code before relying on them.

What Phoenix residents most often report

• Late-night music and parties, the core of what Chapter 23 addresses.
• Pool equipment and HVAC in dense residential developments.
• Short-term rental party noise, an area Phoenix has legislated separately.

How to measure it in Phoenix

Phoenix's Chapter 23 does not give you a number to measure against, so treat the reading as supporting evidence for a disturbance claim rather than proof of exceeding a limit. Record the time precisely — the code singles out 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM — and note who was disturbed, since the provision is framed around annoying or disturbing occupants of nearby dwellings, hotels and hospitals.

Record levels with the free online decibel meter, and log the date, start time and duration with each reading. A phone microphone is accurate to roughly ±2 dB and is not a calibrated instrument — enough to establish a pattern, not enough for an enforcement hearing.

Penalties in Phoenix

Misdemeanour citation; Neighborhood Services handles recurring code issues separately.

How to file a noise complaint in Phoenix

Call 602-262-6151 for active disturbances; Neighborhood Services handles recurring code issues.

Phoenix Police non-emergency →

Noise ordinances in other metros

See all US metro noise ordinances or read how many decibels is too loud.