Cleveland noise ordinance: rules and who to call

Does Cleveland have quiet hours?

Quiet hours: No general quiet hours. Music can't be played so it annoys neighbors or is plainly audible outside the room, at any hour. Construction within 500 feet of homes: not from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Right now: Checking the clock for Cleveland.
Who to call: Cleveland Police non-emergency: 216-621-1234. City services: 311 or 216-664-2000. Emergencies: 911.
The law: Cleveland Codified Ordinances § 605.10, Unnecessary noise, and Chapter 683, Sound Devices. Read the code

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We checked this against the city's code and website on November 9, 2026.

Cleveland splits its noise law in two. Section 605.10, "Unnecessary noise," covers animals, construction and loud machines. Chapter 683, "Sound Devices," covers radios, stereos, TVs and instruments, and it carries the heavier penalties.

What is too loud in Cleveland?

Section 683.01(a) is the rule most neighbors need. No one may play a radio, music player, TV, audio system or musical instrument so it annoys or disturbs "the quiet, comfort or repose of neighboring inhabitants." It also can't be "plainly audible" to anyone other than voluntary listeners in the room where it is played. The rule has no hours, so it applies day and night.

Section 605.10(a) adds a general ban on unnecessary noise. The code has no decibel limits for homes.

Barking dogs

It is unnecessary noise to keep an animal or bird whose "frequent or long continued noise" disturbs anyone nearby, where the noise can be "distinctly heard outside the property line" (§ 605.10(b)(2)).

Construction and yard work

Construction or demolition work, and the equipment used for it, is barred from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. within 500 feet of homes (§ 605.10(b)(8)). Compressed-air tools must be muffled, except a jackhammer on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (§ 605.10(b)(6)). A contractor who needs to work outside these hours can ask the Director of Public Safety for an exemption (§ 605.10(c)). The code does not set hours for lawn mowers or leaf blowers.

How do I report noise in Cleveland?

The city's police page gives the non-emergency number as 216-621-1234, for times you need police but no one is in immediate danger. For other city services, the 311 page says to call 311 or 216-664-2000. For an emergency, call 911.

Fines and penalties

Loud music and other sound devices carry the heavier penalty. A first offense under Chapter 683 is a fourth-degree misdemeanor with a $250 fine that can't be reduced, and up to 30 days in jail. The device is seized. A later offense is a third-degree misdemeanor with a $500 fine and up to 60 days (§ 683.99).

Unnecessary noise under § 605.10 is a minor misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $150 and no jail (§ 601.99). The fine can't be waived. If the person does it again within 12 hours of being charged or warned by police, it becomes a fourth-degree misdemeanor, with up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $250 (§ 605.10(d)).

Keeping a noise log

Because of the 12-hour repeat rule, write down the times, including when police came and gave a warning. The Noisy Neighbor iPhone app logs each incident with the date, time, length and an estimated decibel level. It exports a PDF report. Phone readings are estimates.

Cleveland noise FAQ

What are the quiet hours in Cleveland?

No general quiet hours. Music can't be played so it annoys neighbors or is plainly audible outside the room, at any hour. Construction within 500 feet of homes: not from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Who do I call about a noisy neighbor in Cleveland?

Cleveland Police non-emergency: 216-621-1234. City services: 311 or 216-664-2000. Emergencies: 911.

Where are Cleveland's noise rules?

Cleveland Codified Ordinances § 605.10, Unnecessary noise, and Chapter 683, Sound Devices. There is a link to the official code at the top and bottom of this page.

Can my neighbor play music at night in Cleveland?

Not so loud that it annoys neighbors or can be plainly heard by people who aren't voluntary listeners in the same room. That rule in § 683.01 applies at any hour.

What is the fine for loud music in Cleveland?

A first offense under Chapter 683 is a $250 fine that can't be reduced, up to 30 days in jail, and seizure of the stereo or other device. A second offense is $500 and up to 60 days (§ 683.99).

Sources

Last checked November 9, 2026. Laws change, so check the official code before you act. This is not legal advice.