Hillsborough County Ordinance 36-429, known as the Noise Control Ordinance, provides for regulations requiring the effective control and the elimination of noise disturbance. The intent of this ordinance is to protect, promote, and preserve the health, safety, welfare, peace and quiet of the citizens of Hillsborough County through the reduction, control, and prevention of noise disturbance.

According to this ordinance, anyone can be cited for a noise violation if they:

• Make a noise disturbance that injures or endangers others;
• Make a noise disturbance that is unreasonably loud, disturbing or an overall nuisance;
• Make a noise disturbance that disrupts the peace and quiet of a neighborhood or the area in their general vicinity.

There are no specifications as to exact decibels at which a noise is a “disturbance” or “disruption of the peace” but residence and visitors can make complaints to local law enforcement if they feel as if a noise is a violation of the municipal code.

Code Enforcement

According to this code, anyone who violates a noise control ordinance can be prosecuted in the same way that a misdemeanor offender would be prosecuted. If convicted of the noise violation, the offender can be sentenced to pay a fine up to $500.00 and/or imprisonment in Hillsborough County jail for up to 60 days.