Local guidance
Choose your city.
Find source-specific noise rules, measurement conditions and official complaint or consultation channels for 8 US and 8 Japanese cities.
Check the sound source and conditions before using a number. Phone readings provide reference context; they do not establish a violation.
Content reviewed 2026-11-01. Guides are in English; official sources retain their original language.
United States
New York City
New York
Rules differ for neighbor noise, circulation devices, commercial music and construction. There is no single apartment-wide decibel cap.
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Los Angeles
Many source-specific rules compare sound with ambient levels. Construction hours and public-directed amplified sound follow separate provisions.
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Chicago
Chicago combines conversational-level and audibility tests with numeric rules for mechanical equipment. Different sources have different nighttime windows.
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San Francisco
San Francisco uses relative ambient comparisons and separate indoor limits for fixed sources. Night construction has its own permit rules.
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Seattle
Residential-to-residential sound references depend on time and zoning. Construction hours vary by work type and district.
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Boston
Boston publishes general noise guidance and separate APCC standards by affected property use. Sunday and construction rules need special attention.
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Washington, DC
DC has zoning-based sound limits, construction restrictions and a separate prohibition on gasoline-powered leaf blowers.
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Austin
Austin uses audibility rules for general noise and source-specific sound-equipment limits. Outdoor music venues have permit-specific conditions.
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Japan
Tokyo (23 special wards)
東京都（特別区部）
Tokyo has boundary standards for daily-life noise, but those standards do not apply between homes inside the same building.
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Yokohama
横浜市
Yokohama publishes household-equipment and music guidelines. These targets are not directly enforceable neighbor-noise limits.
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Osaka
大阪市
General household noise is outside direct statutory noise controls. Business audio and specified construction have separate rules.
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Nagoya
名古屋市
Nagoya states that general household sounds have no statutory sound-level standard. Business and construction noise use different controls.
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Kyoto
京都市
Kyoto distinguishes nighttime restaurant noise, business audio restrictions and construction standards from household noise.
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Kobe
神戸市
Kobe’s business-audio and restaurant-hour restrictions apply in specified areas. General household noise is not directly regulated by these provisions.
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Fukuoka
福岡市
Fukuoka separates business sound-equipment limits from nighttime sleep protection. General household disputes usually require discussion or consultation.
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Sapporo
札幌市
Sapporo states that general household noise is outside legal noise regulation. The city offers consultation and sound-meter loans.
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Your city is not listed?
Check your city or ward’s official noise guidance and your building rules. You can still keep a factual incident record without a local decibel cap.
How to document recurring noise