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Fort Worth noise rules: quiet hours, decibel limits and how to complain

Fort Worth’s noise rules sit in a single section of the City Code, § 23-8. The section explains its own design: a noise can break the law because it disturbs a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities, or because it goes over a decibel limit (§ 23-8(a)(2)). That way the rules can be enforced when no meter is on hand.

Decibel limits

Section 23-8(c)(1) sets maximum sound levels measured at the complainant’s property line. For residential zoning districts (one-, two- and multifamily):

• Daytime, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.: 70 dBA
• Nighttime, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.: 60 dBA

For nonresidential and mixed-use districts outside the central business district and Panther Island, the limits are 80 dBA by day and 70 dBA at night. In the “H” central business district, Panther Island and West 7th Village, the 80 dBA daytime limit runs until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

Where the background noise is already above those limits, the limit becomes the existing ambient level plus 3 dBA during the day, and the ambient level itself at night (§ 23-8(c)(1)(d)).

Section 23-8(c)(2) sets the measurement method. Readings must last at least 30 seconds and are taken from the complainant’s property line. The highest reading in that period decides it, and ambient noise is included. If you live in a residential district next to a commercial one, the residential limits apply when measured from your property line.

The reasonable-person rule

Under § 23-8(d)(1), no one may make unreasonably loud noise with enough volume, intensity or duration to disturb a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities. No decibel reading is needed. The section lists examples (§ 23-8(d)(2)):

• Music: playing a radio, phonograph or instrument loud enough to disturb people in a home or hotel, “particularly during the hours between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.”
• Animals: keeping any dog, rooster or other animal that barks, cries or crows on a frequent, repetitive or continuous basis for ten minutes or longer
• Garbage trucks: no collection within 300 feet of residential zoning before 6 a.m. or after 11 p.m. unless a waiver is granted
• Horns, and vehicles that rattle or grind because they are out of repair

Barking dogs

The ten-minute rule is in the noise section itself. The city’s Animal Care and Control page says to file a complaint by calling 817-392-1234 with the address, a description of the animal and the time. You will be asked to keep a complaint log for seven to 10 days with the dates, times and duration of the noise. The city says it generally sends a notice to the owner within 24 hours of a complaint.

Construction hours

Under § 23-8(d)(2)(b), construction within 300 feet of an occupied home is barred:

• before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Monday through Friday
• before 9 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

This covers erection, excavation, demolition, alteration and repair of buildings, structures and flatwork.

What is exempt

Section 23-8(e) exempts normal building heating, cooling and ventilation, property maintenance, permitted outdoor events, government work, airports, railways and road traffic, gas drilling (regulated separately in Chapter 15), and Texas Motor Speedway, among others.

Who to contact

The police department and code compliance department enforce § 23-8 (§ 23-8(f)). Fort Worth Police list 817-392-4222 for non-emergency reports. Call 911 for emergencies. For animal noise, call 817-392-1234.

Penalties

A noise violation is punishable by a fine of up to $500 (§ 23-8(g)). Each occurrence, or each day a violation continues, is a separate offense. The section also declares a violation a nuisance, so the city can seek an injunction or other civil relief.

Texas law

Texas Penal Code § 42.01(a)(5) makes unreasonable noise in a public place, or in or near a private residence the person has no right to occupy, a Class C misdemeanor. 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

Fort Worth’s own animal noise process asks you for a 7- to 10-day log of dates, times and duration. The Noisy Neighbor iPhone app keeps exactly that kind of log, with an estimated decibel reading for each incident, and can export it as a PDF report or a complaint letter for a landlord or HOA. Phone readings are uncalibrated, so they can show a pattern, but an officer’s meter decides whether the 60 dBA nighttime limit was broken.

Sources

• Fort Worth City Code § 23-8, Noise (American Legal)
• Fort Worth Police: Contact
• City of Fort Worth: Animal noise complaints
• Texas Penal Code § 42.01, Disorderly conduct

Last checked 2026-10-16. Laws change; check the official code before acting. Not legal advice.