El Paso noise ordinance: quiet hours and who to call

When are quiet hours in El Paso?

Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., when sound beyond the property line can't exceed 70 dB(A) or 75 dB(C). Power equipment outdoors on residential property: not 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Right now: Checking the clock for El Paso.
Who to call: Dial 311 (EP311) or report online. Emergencies: 911.
The law: El Paso City Code Chapter 9.40. Read the code

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We checked this against the city's code and website on October 17, 2026.

El Paso's noise rules are in Chapter 9.40 of the El Paso City Code. The chapter works two ways. It sets nighttime decibel limits for sound that carries past the property line. It also bans a "noise nuisance" at any hour, judged by how the noise affects "a person of reasonable sensibilities." The chapter was last amended in 2024 and 2025 (Ordinances 019696 and 019782).

Nighttime decibel limits

Section 9.40.030 covers properties that aren't restaurants. From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., sound can't be heard beyond the property line if it goes over either:

70 dB(A), or
75 dB(C)

C-weighting picks up more of the low-frequency bass that A-weighting discounts. Unlike most cities, El Paso applies these levels at the property making the sound. Readings are taken as near as possible to its property line (§ 9.40.030(D) and (F)). Restaurants have the same levels, but they start at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (§ 9.40.030(C)).

Noise nuisance at any hour

The code defines a noise nuisance as a "loud, irritating, vexing or disturbing sound" from a nearby property under separate ownership or occupancy that causes "injury, discomfort, or distress of a person of reasonable sensibilities" (§ 9.40.010). Section 9.40.020(B) lists examples, including:

Radios, TVs, musical instruments and similar devices played so they "unreasonably disturb or interfere with the sleep, peace, comfort, or repose" of a reasonable person (item 12)
Animals that do so "by frequent or habitual noisemaking" (item 2)
Human voices, fireworks and other sources, amplified or not (item 10)
Mechanical or electronic devices used outdoors on residential property (item 7)

Construction and power tools

Commercial construction, repair or demolition equipment: not between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., or in a way that unreasonably disturbs a reasonable person (§ 9.40.020(B)(3))
Power equipment outdoors on residential property: not between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., or in a way that unreasonably disturbs (§ 9.40.020(B)(11))
Lawn mowing and other normal property maintenance is exempt from the chapter from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (§ 9.40.020(A)(7))
Air conditioners, heat pumps and pool equipment are exempt if they stay at or under 70 dBA on residential property. This is measured at the nearest outside wall of a building that someone else owns or lives in (§ 9.40.020(A)(8))

Vibration

Section 9.40.040 bans ground or airborne vibration that a person can feel without instruments anywhere on an affected property. It applies if it unreasonably disturbs a person's "sleep, peace, comfort and repose."

How to complain

Code compliance, the police department and planning and inspections can enforce the chapter (§§ 9.40.050 and 9.40.080). The City's 311 page says to dial 3-1-1 or report through the EP311 site, and that 311 is not monitored 24/7. In an emergency, calls are transferred to 911.

For a formal complaint to the City Prosecutor, the City Attorney's noise complaint form asks for a noise log kept for 48 hours straight. It should list the date, each time the noise was unreasonable, the type of noise and how long it lasted. The form also asks for audio or video recordings and suggests getting other neighbors to fill out logs as witnesses.

Penalties

A violation is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500. Each act and each day of violation is a separate violation (§ 9.40.070(A)). The city can also sue for a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each day the violation continues (§ 9.40.070(C)).

Texas law

Texas Penal Code § 42.01(a)(5) makes unreasonable noise a Class C misdemeanor. It applies in a public place, or in or near a home the person has no right to live in. Noise over 85 decibels is presumed unreasonable after a magistrate or peace officer has given notice that it is a public nuisance (§ 42.01(c)(2)).

Keeping a record

The City Attorney's form already asks for a timed log and recordings. The Noisy Neighbor iPhone app logs each incident with the date, time, length and an estimated decibel level. It exports a PDF report you can attach. Phone readings are estimates, and official readings use a city sound level meter.

El Paso noise FAQ

What are the quiet hours in El Paso?

10 p.m. to 7 a.m., when sound beyond the property line can't exceed 70 dB(A) or 75 dB(C). Power equipment outdoors on residential property: not 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Who do I call about a noisy neighbor in El Paso?

Dial 311 (EP311) or report online. Emergencies: 911.

Where are El Paso's noise rules?

El Paso City Code Chapter 9.40. There is a link to the official code at the top and bottom of this page.

What is the fine for a noise violation in El Paso?

It is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500. The city can also sue for up to $1,000 a day.

Sources

Last checked October 17, 2026. Laws change, so check the official code before you act. This is not legal advice.