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Boston Noise Regulations and Complaint Guide

Boston publishes general noise guidance and separate APCC standards by affected property use. Sunday and construction rules need special attention.

Content reviewed: . Original research snapshot: 2026-10-27. Individual source capture and online-check dates are listed below.

Where to start

  1. Use the official complaint page to choose the category that matches the observed source.
  2. Record dates, duration, receiving location and factual context; phone sound levels are reference readings.
  3. Keep the Service Request number if one is issued, and follow the agency’s instructions for any follow-up.
Open official Boston guidance (opens a new tab)

APCC / 311 / ISD: APCC 617-534-5965; 311

For immediate danger, use local emergency services. For other incidents, follow the official page’s category and police-response instructions.

Rules by sound source

All times are local to Boston (America/New_York). Allowed work hours, restricted windows and periods when a standard applies have different meanings. Check zoning, holidays, permits and exceptions in the cited source.

general

APCC residential and institutional propertyRule with conditions

Residential zoning district / residential or institutional use

Provision: Boston APCC Regulations — zoning-district table, Residential or Institutional; definition of Daytime

Measurement point: lot line of the affected residential/institutional property

  • 60 dBA · 60 dBA at lot line

    Daytime

    Standard period: Mon-Sat, 07:00–18:00

  • 50 dBA · 50 dBA at lot line

    Evening/night — Monday through Saturday

    Standard period: Mon-Sat, 18:00–07:00 (ends the following day)

  • 50 dBA · 50 dBA at affected residential/institutional lot line

    Sunday — all day

    Standard period: Sun, 00:00–24:00

Octave-band table also applies. 'Daytime' is 7am-6pm daily except Sunday.

The APCC daytime period ends at 18:00 and excludes Sunday. L10 and maximum construction values cannot be compared directly with LAeq.

General city noise guidanceCity guidance

General noise (city webpage guidance)

Provision: Boston Public Health Commission “Noise in Boston” — general 50/70 dB guidance

Measurement point: not specified on page

  • 50 dBA · 50 dB

    Night

    Standard period: Daily, 23:00–07:00 (ends the following day)

  • 70 dBA · 70 dB

    Any time

    Standard period: Daily, 00:00–24:00

Use as UX guidance; for enforcement cite APCC zoning standard.

The APCC daytime period ends at 18:00 and excludes Sunday. L10 and maximum construction values cannot be compared directly with LAeq.

General noise pollutionRule with conditions

General prohibition of noise pollution

Provision: Boston APCC Regulations — prohibition of a condition of noise pollution

Measurement point: varies

  • noise pollution prohibited

    Any time

    Restricted window: Daily, 00:00–24:00

Noise pollution includes nuisance, interference with comfortable enjoyment, or exceeding standards.

The APCC daytime period ends at 18:00 and excludes Sunday. L10 and maximum construction values cannot be compared directly with LAeq.

construction

Construction hoursRule with conditions

Construction site operating hours

Provision: Boston Public Health Commission “Noise in Boston” — construction hours and after-hours permits

Measurement point: n/a

  • allowed window; after-hours permit required

    Regular construction hours

    Allowed work window: Mon-Fri, 07:00–18:00

After-hours work requires a permit from Inspectional Services; some roadwork may be permitted at night for emergencies.

The APCC daytime period ends at 18:00 and excludes Sunday. L10 and maximum construction values cannot be compared directly with LAeq.

Construction L10 and maximum levelsRule with conditions

Construction-site noise limits (when work is permitted)

Provision: Boston APCC Regulations 3.1–3.4 — construction devices, L10/maximum, street work and impact exclusions

Measurement point: lot line of affected property; 50 ft for street work

  • 75 dBA · 75 dBA L10

    Residential/institutional lot line - L10

    Standard period: Daily, 00:00–24:00

  • 86 dBA · 86 dBA maximum

    Residential/institutional lot line - max

    Standard period: Daily, 00:00–24:00

  • 86 dBA · 86 dBA at 15 m (50 ft)

    Street excavation/utility work at 50 ft

    Standard period: Daily, 00:00–24:00

These limits apply when construction is permitted; they are separate from the 7am-6pm weekday operating-hours rule. Impact devices are excluded from the 3.1/3.3 limits. For the L10 criterion, the source must also exceed background L10 by 5 dBA; street-work measurements are at least 50 ft from the device. L10, maximum and LAeq are different statistics.

The APCC daytime period ends at 18:00 and excludes Sunday. L10 and maximum construction values cannot be compared directly with LAeq.

Exclusions and exceptions

  • Impact devices are excluded from Regulations 3.1 and 3.3.

Official sources and review context

Saved-source review and online retrieval are different checks. Some sites block automated retrieval; an unavailable recheck is shown below. Open the official source to confirm the current wording and any later amendments.

Related Practical Guides

Document recurring noise

Keep a factual chronology for management or official follow-up.

Phone measurement limits

Understand reference readings and prescribed official measurements.

Start with one clear record.

Recording is free; new PDF reports require Pro. Your records stay on your phone until you choose to share.

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