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Noise complaint hours: when to call 311, police or 911

Updated 2026-11-07

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People often ask what time a noise complaint is allowed. The honest answer is that there's no national rule. Each city writes its own, and many cities let you complain about noise at any hour if it's loud enough.

This guide shows how much the rules differ, how to find yours, and who to call.

Night hours in 14 cities

Most city codes set a "night" or "quiet hours" period. During that time, the noise limits are lower or a stricter rule applies. Here is what we found in each city's code. Click a city for the full rules and sources.

So in Colorado Springs, the lower limit starts at 7 p.m. In Raleigh, night doesn't start until 11 p.m. If you're not sure, look up your city's page before you call.

These 14 cities are a sample. Every city page is in the city quiet hours table, including construction hours when the city page states them. That page has a CSV download.

Noise can break the rules in the daytime too

Quiet hours are not the only rule. Many codes ban noise that is too loud at any time of day.

• Kansas City bans sound that disturbs neighbors "at any time" if it's louder than the people in the room need to hear it.
• Mesa bans loud, unnecessary or unusual noise that would bother a reasonable person. The time of day is only one factor.
• Baltimore's rule against music heard 50 feet from a home or car has no hours at all.

So if music is shaking your walls at 3 p.m., you may still have a case. Night hours just make the limits lower.

311, police non-emergency or 911?

Each city sends noise complaints to a different place. A few examples from city websites:

• Kansas City's Health Department says to contact 311 about noise.
• Raleigh says its police department handles all noise complaints, at 919-829-1911.
• In Atlanta, ATL311 says to dial 311 and choose option 2, or text 911, and an officer will be sent.
• Tucson is unusual. For a loud party, its police say to call 911 and say you want to report an "unruly gathering."

For most noise, 911 is the wrong number. Save it for an emergency, unless your city's own page says otherwise. Each of our city pages lists the numbers the city gives.

Can you report noise online?

Some cities take noise reports online or by app. Kansas City takes 311 requests through its myKCMO app. Atlanta has an online page to ask police to come out. Raleigh takes reports about bar and restaurant music through its Ask Raleigh portal, but says it handles those no sooner than the next business day.

An online report is fine for a problem that keeps coming back. For noise that is happening right now, a phone call usually gets a faster response.

What to say when you call

Have these ready:

• The exact address the noise is coming from
• What the noise is, such as a party, music or a barking dog
• When it started and how long it has gone on
• Whether it has happened before

Some cities need more before they can write a ticket. In Milwaukee, a complaint from the public has to give the date, time and place, and name an adult who heard the noise and can testify. Albuquerque's noise FAQ says anonymous complaints are hard to act on, so give your contact details.

While you wait

A complaint can take days or weeks to fix anything. In the meantime, steady background sound can make noise easier to sleep through. You can browse white noise machines on Amazon or foam earplugs for sleeping. These are search links for general product types, not picks of one brand.

Keep a record

Every time you call, write down the date and time and what happened. A log shows a pattern, and a pattern gets more attention than one call. Our guide on how to document noise from neighbors covers what to write down. If you'd rather write to the neighbor or landlord first, see our noise complaint letter guide. For footsteps from above, see upstairs neighbor stomping.

The Noisy Neighbor iPhone app logs each incident with the date, time, length and an estimated decibel level. It can export a PDF report or complaint letter. Phone readings are estimates, but the dates and times are what make a log useful.

Write a complaint letter · Incident log · Quiet hours in 60 cities

Sources

• Atlanta City Code § 74-131, Prohibited conduct
• Raleigh City Code § 12-5001, Definitions
• Colorado Springs City Code § 9.8.104, Permissible noise levels
• Kansas City Code § 46-4, Prohibited noise, generally
• Mesa City Code Title 6, Chapter 12
• D.C. Code § 22-1321, Disorderly conduct
• Kansas City Health Department: contact 311 for noise complaints
• City of Raleigh: Public Nuisances (noise complaints)
• City of Raleigh: Amplified Sound (Ask Raleigh portal)
• ATL311: Noise Complaints
• City of Tucson Police: Report an Unruly Gathering (Red Tag Ordinance)

More guides

• Barking dog noise: what to write down and who to call
• Construction noise: hours are not the same as quiet hours
• What to do when your landlord will not deal with a noisy neighbor
• Noise complaint letter: free templates and examples
• Can you break a lease because of a noisy neighbor?
• What time can I call a noise complaint?
• How to document noise from neighbors
• Upstairs neighbor stomping: what you can do

Look up your city's noise rules

Not legal advice. Rules depend on your city, your lease and your HOA's documents.