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Tucson noise ordinance: quiet hours and who to call

Tucson's main noise rule is § 16-31 of the Tucson City Code, "Excessive noise." It has decibel limits measured beyond the property line. It also lists noises that are banned with no reading needed, if they can be plainly heard next door and bother someone. A separate section, § 16-32, covers loud parties and is known as the red tag ordinance.

Decibel limits

Under § 16-31(a), no one may make sound beyond their property line above these levels when the property receiving it is residential:

• 70 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• 62 dB(A) from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Some properties are used for both homes and business. There, the residential limits apply only to readings taken on the part used only as a home.

Noise banned without a meter

Section 16-31(b) says some noise is a violation even if it can't be measured or stays under the decibel limits. Each of these is banned if it is "plainly audible" beyond the property line and disturbs "the peace and quiet of a neighborhood or person":

• Music, TV, an amplifier, an instrument or another sound device, if the noise goes on for at least 15 minutes. It can be steady or on and off (§ 16-31(b)(1))
• Loud, disturbing noise from loading or unloading a vehicle (§ 16-31(b)(2))
• An animal or bird that "frequently or for continuous duration howls, barks, meows, squawks or makes other sounds" (§ 16-31(b)(3)). Police officers and county animal control officers can cite the owner.
• Shouting, yelling, screaming or other "raucous vocalization" by a person or group (§ 16-31(b)(4))
• Construction noise at the times listed below (§ 16-31(b)(5))

Car stereos have their own rule. Sound from a vehicle's sound system can't be plainly audible, or felt as vibration, at 50 feet (§ 16-31(k)).

Construction hours

Section 16-31(b)(5) covers construction, repair, remodeling, demolition, drilling, wood cutting and digging. They are banned from 8 p.m. to sunrise Monday to Saturday. They are banned all day on Sundays and legal holidays. There is an exception for work at your own home: from sunrise to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.

Who is responsible

If police can't tell who is responsible for the noise, the owner, lessee or occupant of the property is treated as responsible (§ 16-31(j)). The police department and city attorney enforce the section. The person who complained doesn't always have to go to court for a violator to be found responsible (§ 16-31(m)).

Loud parties: the red tag rule

Section 16-32 defines an unruly gathering as five or more people on private property behaving in a way that disturbs others' "quiet enjoyment" of their property. The listed examples include excessive noise or traffic, fighting, underage drinking and littering. Police can break up the gathering, cite or arrest people, and post a notice on the home (§ 16-32(b) and (c)). The notice has to stay up for 180 days, and removing it is a separate civil infraction with a mandatory $100 fine (§ 16-32(c)(3)). Police enforce § 16-32 only after a complaint from a member of the public (§ 16-32(h)).

The Tucson Police page on the red tag ordinance says to report an unruly gathering by calling 911 and saying, "I want to report an unruly gathering." It says you can stay anonymous, and asks you to give the exact address and describe what you see and hear.

How to complain

For a loud party, follow the red tag steps above. For other noise, the Tucson Police contact page lists the non-emergency line, 520-791-4444. It is staffed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The page says to call 911 for an emergency or immediate police help.

Penalties

A violation of § 16-31 is a civil infraction (§ 16-31(l)). The section points to § 1-8(2) and Chapter 8, and § 8-6.1(a)(1) sets the fines:

• First time: $100 to $2,500
• Second time for the same violation: $200 to $2,500
• Third and later times: $300 to $2,500

The fine can't be suspended. The court must also order the violation stopped, and that order lasts one year (§ 8-6.1(a)(2) and § 16-31(l)). Each day a violation continues is a separate offense (§ 1-8(3)).

Unruly gatherings carry minimum mandatory fines under § 16-32(g):

• First unruly gathering: $500, or $750 if the person has been found responsible for one before, anywhere
• A second gathering at the same home within 180 days: $750, then $1,000, then $1,500 for each later one
• Those responsible for a repeat gathering also pay police response costs, up to $1,000

For a repeat gathering, the property owner can be liable too. That applies if they were there when the notice was posted, or were mailed notice at least two weeks before (§ 16-32(f)).

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

The music rule in § 16-31(b)(1) turns on noise lasting at least 15 minutes. So a log of start and stop times is useful evidence. 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

• Tucson City Code § 16-31, Excessive noise (American Legal)
• Tucson City Code § 16-32, Unruly gatherings (American Legal)
• Tucson City Code § 1-8, General penalty (American Legal)
• Tucson City Code § 8-6.1, Penalties for civil infractions (American Legal)
• City of Tucson Police: Report an Unruly Gathering (Red Tag Ordinance)
• City of Tucson Police: Contact TPD

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