San Antonio noise rules at a glance
- Governing code: San Antonio Code of Ordinances, Chapter 21, Article III (Noise)
- Quiet hours: No blanket curfew; the code applies a 7 dB stricter correction to noise present at night
- How violations are judged: Mixed standard
- Construction: Construction is restricted to daytime on weekdays, and at any hour may not exceed 80 dBA at or across a property boundary
- Complaints: 311
How San Antonio decides what counts as too loud
San Antonio runs a general nuisance standard alongside specific numeric tests, and then applies a correction table that moves the permitted level by up to 7 dB depending on the time of day and the character of the sound.
Noise limits in San Antonio
| Applies to | Daytime | Night |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 80 dBA at or across a real property boundary, daytime weekdays only | Not permitted outside daytime weekday hours |
| Nighttime correction (all sources) | Permitted levels as published | Subtract 7 dB — and a further 7 dB if the sound is impulsive or contains strong pure tones |
| Vehicle sound systems | Audible 30 feet from the vehicle is a violation, as is perceptible vibration outside it | Same test |
What's specific to San Antonio
- The correction table cuts both ways: intermittent noise with long gaps between bursts is allowed up to 10 dB more than a steady source.
- Quiet Zones extend 250 feet around schools while in session and around hospitals, with stricter treatment inside them.
- The River Walk area is regulated separately under § 21-60, and the nighttime correction does not apply there.
What San Antonio residents most often report
- Construction starting before daytime hours or breaching the 80 dBA boundary limit.
- Vehicle sound systems, which have their own flat 30-foot audibility test and need no meter at all.
- Bar and venue noise near the River Walk, where a separate section applies and the usual night correction does not.
How to measure it in San Antonio
Log how long each burst lasts and how long the gaps are, not just the level. San Antonio's correction table turns on exactly that: a source with an 'on time' under 20 minutes and long gaps is permitted up to 10 dB more, while a steady tone at night is charged 14 dB less than the published figure. A timed session with the pattern visible is worth far more here than a single peak reading.
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.
Turn your readings into something you can file
311 will ask when the noise happens and how long it lasts. A live decibel reading answers neither. Pro records a timestamped session — a ten-minute check or a full night — charts the whole thing, and exports a PDF with the dates, times, duration and the statistics that describe a pattern rather than a moment.
- Timestamped sessions with the recording timezone
- Leq and L10/L50/L90 background levels
- Print-ready PDF report, one click
- Your last 25 sessions, kept on your device
Measurements stay on your device on the subscription plans. A phone microphone is not a calibrated instrument — a session establishes a pattern, and this page is not legal advice.
Penalties in San Antonio
Abatement officers may issue an immediate stop order, and noise-producing property can be seized after a prior conviction within twelve months.
How to file a noise complaint in San Antonio
311 routes to code enforcement and to appointed noise abatement officers, who can issue an administrative stop order requiring the sound to halt immediately.
Sources
Municipal codes are amended regularly and enforcement practice varies by neighbourhood and agency. This page summarises the code as of 2026-08-10 and is not legal advice — confirm against the linked code before relying on any figure, and consult a lawyer for a dispute.
Noise ordinances in other metros
See all US metro noise ordinances or read how many decibels is too loud.