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Colorado Springs noise ordinance: quiet hours and who to call

Colorado Springs' noise rules are Part 1, "Noise Pollution - General," of Article 8 of Chapter 9 of the City Code (§§ 9.8.101 to 9.8.109). There are two ways to break them: noise that is excessive or unusually loud by ear, and noise that goes over a decibel limit.

The general rule

Section 9.8.101(A) makes it unlawful "to make, create, or permit an excessive or unusually loud noise," or a noise that endangers public safety or harms anyone. It can be proved by someone hearing it, without a meter, or by measuring it. In deciding whether there is reason to believe someone broke the rule without a meter, the code lists the time of day, where the noise is, and "whether the noise can be heard from at least one hundred feet (100') from its source" (§ 9.8.101(G)). Police officers can be the complainant (§ 9.8.101(E)).

Decibel limits

Under § 9.8.104, noise at or above these levels in a residential zone is "excessive and unusually loud":

• 55 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• 50 dB(A) from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

The night limit starts at 7 p.m., earlier than in most cities. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the limit can be exceeded by 10 dB(A) for up to 15 minutes in any hour (§ 9.8.105). For "periodic, impulsive, or shrill noises," the limits are 5 dB(A) lower (§ 9.8.106). When noise reaches more than one zone, the stricter limit applies (§ 9.8.104(E)).

The code says readings are taken at least 25 feet from the property line of the property the noise comes from, on the A scale of a standard sound level meter, and with the background noise taken into account (§ 9.8.103).

Car stereos

Section 9.8.102 bans excessive or unusually loud noise from a vehicle's sound system, whether the vehicle is moving or parked. Words don't need to be understood. Fines have minimums that the court can't waive:

• First offense: $75 to $500
• Second: $150 to $500
• Third or later: $300 to $500, and the sound system is forfeited

Construction and alarms

Construction projects are held to the limits for industrial zones (80 dB(A) in the daytime and 75 dB(A) at night) for the time allowed by their permit, or for a reasonable time if the permit sets none (§ 9.8.107). A burglar alarm without an automatic shutoff can't sound for more than 16 minutes (§ 9.8.101(D)).

Part 1 of the noise article sets no construction hours.

Barking dogs

Barking dogs are covered in the animal chapter. No one may keep a pet whose "unreasonably loud and persistent" barking, howling or other noise disturbs the neighborhood, meaning the area within 500 feet of the pet's home (§ 6.7.115(A), (G)). An animal control officer must first give the owner a written warning, and the owner then has three days to fix the problem. If the barking keeps up or comes back within six months, the owner can be cited (§ 6.7.115(C)). A court can't convict unless someone besides the person who complained, and outside that person's household, backs up the complaint (§ 6.7.115(E)). It is a defense if the person who complained provoked the animal (§ 6.7.115(B)).

How to complain

The Colorado Springs Police Department says to call its non-emergency number, 719-444-7000, for anything that isn't a life-threatening emergency, and that the line is staffed 24 hours a day. For an emergency, call 911.

Penalties

Apart from the car stereo fines above, a conviction under the noise rules is punished under the City's general penalty (§ 9.1.110 and § 1.1.201). That is a fine of up to $2,500, up to 189 days in jail, probation, or a combination, "unless a lesser penalty is provided for elsewhere in this Code." Each day a violation continues is a separate offense (§ 1.1.201(C)).

Keeping a record

Since the night limit begins at 7 p.m., note the time whenever noise starts. 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, not the sound level meter readings the code describes.

Sources

• Colorado Springs City Code Chapter 9, Article 8, Part 1, Noise Pollution, General (American Legal)
• Colorado Springs City Code § 9.8.103, Classification, measurement of noise
• Colorado Springs City Code § 9.8.104, Permissible noise levels
• Colorado Springs City Code § 6.7.115, Noisy pets or animals prohibited
• Colorado Springs City Code § 1.1.201, General penalty
• Colorado Springs Police Department: Contact CSPD

Last checked October 21, 2026. Laws change, so check the official code before you act. This is not legal advice.