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Mesa noise ordinance: rules and who to call

Mesa's noise rules are Chapter 12 of Title 6 of the Mesa City Code, "Offensive, Excessive, and Prohibited Noises." The City replaced the old chapter with a new one in December 2022. It has no decibel limits. Instead, it bans noise that would bother a reasonable person and lists the factors police and code officers weigh.

The general rule

Section 6-12-3(A) makes it a violation to make or allow "any loud, unnecessary, or unusual sound or noise that disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of a reasonable person." To decide, officers look at:

• How loud and intense the noise is
• How close it is to homes
• The zoning of the place it comes from
• Whether it repeats, comes and goes, or is constant
• The time of day, "especially a sound or noise occurring between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m."
• How loud the background noise is
• Whether it is made louder by electronic or mechanical means, such as speakers
• Whether it could be controlled without unreasonable effort or expense

There is no fixed quiet-hours window. Late-night noise is weighed more heavily, but loud noise can break the rule at any hour.

Barking dogs

Section 6-12-4 bans keeping any animal "that causes or makes frequent or long and continued sound" that unreasonably disturbs a reasonable person.

Mesa Animal Control handles these complaints in steps. Its animal noise page says the first and second complaints each lead to a letter to the owner, with 5 to 7 days (and no more than 21) between complaints. After the third, an officer visits. To get a citation, you send at least a 7-day log of dates, times and how long the noise lasted, and say you're willing to go to court. The page says anonymous complaints aren't accepted, and that if more than 21 days pass between complaints the process starts over. Animal Control's number is 480-644-2268.

Car stereos

Sound from a car's sound system can't be plainly audible 50 feet from the vehicle, or unreasonably disturb a reasonable person (§ 6-12-5(B)).

Construction and yard work

Construction, repair, remodeling, demolition, drilling, landscaping, lawn and yard work, and wood cutting are exempt from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. At your own home, you can also do these from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (§ 6-12-6(F)). Outside those hours, the general rule applies.

Who is responsible

If police can't tell who made the noise, the owner, property manager, event sponsor, lessee or occupant of the property is presumed responsible. Anyone at a party who makes the noise can be held responsible too (§ 6-12-8). Police, code compliance officers, animal control officers and park rangers enforce the chapter (§ 6-12-9).

How to complain

The City's Noise Disturbance page says to call 480-644-2211, option 2, to report noise. A Mesa Police guide for homeowner associations says a noise disturbance is a "Priority Three call," so "there may be a delay in the response" when officers are on higher-priority calls. For an emergency, call 911.

Penalties

A violation is a civil infraction (§ 6-12-10). The fines are:

• First finding: $250 to $1,500
• Second within 24 months: $500 to $2,500
• Third within 24 months: $750 to $2,500

Each violation is a separate offense. Someone found responsible on three separate dates within 12 months who breaks the rule again is a habitual offender and can be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor. That carries up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both, with a minimum fine of $500 per count (§ 6-12-11).

Arizona law

Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-2904(A)(2) makes unreasonable noise disorderly conduct. A second law, § 9-500.52, covers permitted construction from May 1 through October 15. It limits how far a city can restrict that work. Both laws are linked on the Arizona noise rules page.

Keeping a record

For barking dogs, Mesa asks for at least a week of notes with dates, times and how long the noise lasted. 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.

Sources

• Mesa City Code Title 6, Chapter 12, Offensive, Excessive, and Prohibited Noises (Municode)
• City of Mesa: Noise Disturbance
• City of Mesa Animal Control: Animal Noise Disturbance Complaint
• City of Mesa Police: Frequently Asked Questions for HOA Communities (PDF)

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