New York CityNoise Ordinance & Quiet Hours
Last verified: July 6, 2026
Ordinances change and enforcement varies by jurisdiction. This is general information, not legal advice — always confirm details with the linked official source before relying on them.
Quiet hours
Weekdays: 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM
Weekends: 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM
Standards tighten across most noise categories during this window, but ordinary neighbor-to-neighbor noise is judged by a "plainly audible" / reasonableness standard rather than a flat decibel ceiling — see decibelLimits.
Decibel limits
The NYC Noise Code sets specific numeric limits for particular equipment and venues — for example, a single air conditioner or similar device is capped around 42 dBA, and commercial music must not exceed roughly 42 dBA measured inside a nearby residence — but ordinary residential neighbor noise (voices, footsteps, TVs) is governed by whether it is "plainly audible" beyond the source unit or otherwise unreasonable, not a specific dB figure.
Governing ordinance
New York City Noise Code (NYC Admin. Code Title 24, Ch. 2)
Enforcement
NYC 311 (noise complaints) · NYPD for in-progress residential/nightlife disturbances; DEP for the Noise Code generally
File through NYC 311, which routes residential noise complaints to NYPD and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as appropriate. Document the date, time, and specific disturbance.
New York City sits under New York's broader landlord-tenant law — see the New York state page for habitability and quiet-enjoyment protections that apply regardless of city.
Ready to escalate? Document what's happening with a noise log and use the complaint letter generator to put it in writing.