Home / Cities / Florida / Miami

Miami noise ordinance: rules and who to call

Miami's noise rules are Chapter 36 of the City Code. The rules for dogs are in Chapter 6. The chapter has no general decibel limit for homes. Instead it bans loud, unnecessary noise and uses a distance test for music.

What is too loud in Miami?

Section 36-1 makes it unlawful "to make any loud, unnecessary, excessive or unusual noise in the city." Section 36-3 bans loud or boisterous noise that may annoy people on a street or sidewalk or in a nearby building.

The 100-foot rule for music

Section 36-4(a) covers radios, speakers, bands and other sound devices. Whoever owns, occupies or runs a building or property can't allow loud, unnecessary noise from them where it is "plainly audible at a distance of 100 feet" from the building, vehicle or property. The code says being plainly audible at 100 feet is prima facie evidence of a violation. That means it counts as proof unless the other side shows otherwise. This rule applies "at any time," so there is no window when it is switched off.

Businesses have extra limits. A business that shares a property line with a home can't play music in its outdoor spaces from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. (§ 36-4(b)). A business can't play music from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. unless it is inside a closed building and can't be heard outside in a way that disturbs people at home. After a second conviction, the City can revoke the business tax receipt (§ 36-5(a)). Many businesses are exempt from the outdoor rule, including those in the downtown, Omni, Coconut Grove and Wynwood districts (§ 36-4(d)). Some entertainment districts also have their own decibel limits in §§ 36-4 and 36-5.

Barking dogs

No one may keep a dog that engages in "frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling" that annoys the neighborhood or people passing on the street (§ 6-39). Chapter 6 doesn't give a set number of minutes.

Construction and yard work

Construction, drilling or demolition tools such as pile drivers and pneumatic hammers can't be used from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays, or at any time on Sundays and holidays, if the sound creates a noise disturbance at a residential district boundary (§ 36-6(a)(1)). Emergency utility work and work with special permission are exempt. Air conditioners, pumps and similar equipment have their own limits at the property line. Next to a single-family home, the cap is 60 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 55 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., or 10 dBA (day) and 5 dBA (night) above the normal background level (§ 36-8). Chapter 36 has no separate hours for lawn mowers or leaf blowers.

How do I report noise in Miami?

The City of Miami's police page lists the Miami Police non-emergency number as (305) 579-6111. For an emergency, call 911.

Fines and penalties

Where a section has no penalty of its own, § 1-13 applies: a fine of up to $500, up to 60 days in jail, or both. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense.

Keeping a noise log

The 100-foot rule is about what people can hear, so notes on where you were standing and what you heard help. 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.

Sources

• Miami City Code Chapter 36, Noise (Municode)
• Miami City Code § 36-4, Radios, phonographs and other sound-making devices
• Miami City Code § 36-6, Construction equipment
• Miami City Code § 6-39, Noisy dogs
• Miami City Code § 1-13, General penalty
• City of Miami: Police Department (non-emergency number)

Last checked November 2, 2026. Laws change, so check the official code before you act. This is not legal advice.