Omaha noise ordinance: rules and who to call

Does Omaha have quiet hours?

Quiet hours: No general quiet hours. At home, amplified sound can't be plainly audible in an adjoining unit at any time, once the neighbor has told the source about it. Loud construction equipment: not from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Right now: Checking the clock for Omaha.
Who to call: Omaha Police Department non-emergency switchboard: 402-444-5600. Emergencies: 911.
The law: Omaha Municipal Code Chapter 17, Noise Control (§§ 17-1 to 17-3 and Article II), and § 6-74 for animals. Read the code

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We checked this against the city's code and website on November 2, 2026.

Omaha's noise rules are Chapter 17 of the Omaha Municipal Code, "Noise Control." Article I covers construction and amplified sound. Article II covers motor vehicles. The rules for animals are in Chapter 6.

What is too loud in Omaha?

The main rule for neighbors is § 17-3, "Volume control," which the City Council rewrote in May 2026. It covers speakers, radios, musical instruments and other devices that make or amplify sound.

On residential property, the sound can't be "plainly audible in any adjoining unit." This applies to single-family homes and to units in apartment buildings (§ 17-3(2)).
The rule has a catch. The code says "actual notice from the occupant of the adjoining residence" to the person making the sound is "a necessary element." In plain terms, you have to tell your neighbor first.
On public property, a street or a car on a public street, amplified sound can't be plainly audible more than 100 feet from the source (§ 17-3(1)).

"Plainly audible" means a person can hear it with normal hearing (§ 17-3(3)). Chapter 17 has no decibel limit for homes and no general quiet hours.

Barking dogs

An owner can't let an animal "habitually bark, howl, yelp, bay or make other noise" that disturbs the peace because it is too loud or too frequent (§ 6-74(c)). This does not apply to the animal shelter, vets or medical labs. An animal control officer may issue a citation, or impound the animal if no owner can be found (§ 6-74). Section 6-74 sets no fine of its own. Where the code sets no specific penalty, the general penalty in § 1-10 applies.

Construction and yard work

No one may run a pile driver, steam shovel, air hammer, hoist or other loud construction machine from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (§ 17-1). The chapter gives no hours for lawn mowers or leaf blowers.

How do I report noise in Omaha?

The Omaha Police Department's phone directory lists its non-emergency switchboard as 402-444-5600. For an emergency, call 911. Under § 17-3, tell the neighbor about the noise first, and keep a note of when you did.

Fines and penalties

Section 17-32 says anyone convicted of an offense under Chapter 17 may be punished under § 1-10. That is a fine of up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense (§ 1-10).

Keeping a noise log

Omaha's home rule depends on the neighbor having been told, so write down the date and time you gave notice, then each time the noise came back. 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.

Omaha noise FAQ

What are the quiet hours in Omaha?

No general quiet hours. At home, amplified sound can't be plainly audible in an adjoining unit at any time, once the neighbor has told the source about it. Loud construction equipment: not from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Who do I call about a noisy neighbor in Omaha?

Omaha Police Department non-emergency switchboard: 402-444-5600. Emergencies: 911.

Where are Omaha's noise rules?

Omaha Municipal Code Chapter 17, Noise Control (§§ 17-1 to 17-3 and Article II), and § 6-74 for animals. There is a link to the official code at the top and bottom of this page.

What is the penalty for a noise violation in Omaha?

Section 17-32 sends Chapter 17 violations to the general penalty in § 1-10: a fine of up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both. Each day is a separate offense.

Sources

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