Phoenix noise rules: quiet hours, construction hours and how to complain

At a glance

Quiet hours: The code names 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. for radios, music and street noise
Who to call: Police non-emergency: 602-262-6151. After-hours construction: 602-262-7456.
The law: Phoenix City Code §§ 23-12 to 23-15. Read the code

Checked against official sources on 2026-10-16.

Phoenix handles neighbor noise in Chapter 23 of the City Code, in Division 2, “Nuisances and Noise.” The rules describe conduct. This part of the code has no residential decibel table for neighbor noise.

The general rules

Section 23-12 prohibits creating unreasonably loud and disturbing noises. Section 23-13 adds that noise “of such character, intensity or duration as to be detrimental to the life or health of any individual or in disturbance of the public peace and welfare is hereby prohibited.”

Section 23-14 then lists examples. The list says plainly that it is not complete, so other noise can still be a violation.

Music and late-night noise

Two examples in § 23-14 name specific hours:

Radios, stereos and instruments (§ 23-14(b)): playing them so loud that it annoys or disturbs people in a home, hotel, office or hospital, or people nearby, “particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.”
Yelling, shouting, whistling or singing on public streets (§ 23-14(c)), again “particularly” between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Because the code says “particularly,” the rule is not limited to those hours. Music that disturbs people nearby in the afternoon can still fall under § 23-14(b).

Barking dogs and other pets

Section 23-14(d) covers keeping any animal, bird or fowl that disturbs “the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity” by “frequent or long continued noise.” No minute count or decibel level is given.

Construction hours

The city code, § 23-14(h), bars construction within 500 feet of an inhabited building outside these hours on non-holiday weekdays:

6 a.m. to 7 p.m. from May 1 through September 30
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from October 1 through April 30

The Planning and Development Director can issue permits for work outside those hours.

Arizona state law now overrides part of this. The City of Phoenix says a state law that took effect May 13, 2025 allows permitted construction from May 1 to October 15 during these hours:

Monday to Friday: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Concrete can be poured up to one hour before those hours start, and the city says it cannot restrict these summer hours for work with a valid permit. So in summer, permitted work starting at 5 a.m. on a weekday can be legal even though the city code still lists 6 a.m.

Parties

The Phoenix Police Department’s FAQ describes a separate loud party ordinance (City Code § 2-22) for gatherings of five or more people that disturb the peace. The FAQ lists loud music, a band or DJ, traffic problems, underage drinking and fights as factors police may consider. This page does not summarize § 2-22’s fees.

Who to contact

Noise from neighbors, parties and other non-construction sources: Phoenix Police non-emergency line, 602-262-6151. Use 911 for emergencies.
Construction noise outside allowed hours on a permitted project: call 602-262-7456. The city says on-call inspectors respond within two hours, check first whether the project has an after-hours permit, and need your contact information for a callback. If the inspector cannot reach you, the complaint is not investigated.

Penalties

The noise sections themselves do not list a fine. Under § 1-5, a condition that violates the code may be treated as a public nuisance and abated by the city, and each day it continues is a separate offense.

Keeping a record

Phoenix’s rules depend on whether noise disturbs a reasonable person, so a log showing how often it happens, what time and for how long tends to matter more than a single reading. The Noisy Neighbor iPhone app keeps that log for you, with estimated decibel levels and notes for each incident, and can produce a PDF report or a complaint letter to send to a landlord or HOA. The levels it shows are estimates from the phone, not a certified measurement.

Sources

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