The Resolution Path
1. Local Ordinance
2. Document Evidence
3. Resolve Dispute
The Resolution Path
Step 1 of 3Bend, OR
Noise Ordinance Overview
You’ve located the ordinance. Now, compare your situation against the legal thresholds to build your case.
Official Decibel Limits
volume_up"Decibel limits are measured on a property other than the source of the sound, containing a residence or other noise-sensitive unit. For properties without a residence or noise-sensitive unit, limits are 85 dBA daytime and 80 dBA nighttime. Police are required to use decibel meters for commercial businesses when issuing citations after 10 p.m."
AI Executive Summary
Bend, OR noise ordinances, outlined in Bend Code Chapter 5.50, prohibit excessive noise and establish specific decibel limits for residential, commercial, and industrial zones. Quiet hours are strictly enforced between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., with lower decibel thresholds during these times. Violations can lead to civil infractions and escalating fines.
Specific Noise Restrictions
Construction
Constructing, demolishing, altering, or repairing a building, street, sidewalk, driveway, sewer, or utility line is prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sounds from air, electrical, or gas-driven domestic tools, including lawn and construction tools, are generally permitted between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Amplified Sound
Using or operating a mechanical or electrical speaker or amplifier that creates noise plainly audible at the property line of a residence or noise-sensitive unit (other than the property where generated) is prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Noise Variance Permits can be obtained for events that may exceed noise levels or time limits.
Animals
No specific decibel limits for animals are mentioned, but general prohibitions against 'unnecessarily loud' noise apply. Animal control can be reached via the non-emergency police number.
Vehicles
Prohibited acts include the excessive sounding of horns (except as danger signals), operation of gongs or sirens (except emergency vehicles during parades), use of vehicles out of repair/without legal exhaust or creating unnecessarily loud noise at 50 feet, or unnecessarily loud vehicle use outside public rights-of-way. The use of exhaust brakes (jake brakes) is prohibited at all times, except in emergencies or for emergency services vehicles with muffled systems.
Noise Protection Score
How well does Bend protect residents from noise?
65 dB day / 60 dB night
Standard coverage
Standard fines
4 noise categories regulated
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the quiet hours in Bend, OR?
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Bend's quiet hours: 10PM-7AM. During these hours, noise must stay below residential nighttime decibel limits at the property line. Violations can result in fines on the first offense.
What are the noise decibel limits in Bend?
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Bend's residential noise limits: 65 dBA dB(A) during the day and 60 dBA dB(A) at night. Commercial zones allow 70 dBA. Limits are measured at the receiving property line.
How do I file a noise complaint in Bend?
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Call the Bend police non-emergency line at 541-693-6911. For ongoing violations, contact code enforcement at 541-312-4908. Have the address, noise type, and duration ready. You can request to remain anonymous.
What is the fine for a noise violation in Bend?
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Bend's noise violation penalties: Violation of any provision is a Class A civil infraction. The maximum penalty for a first violation within a one-year period is $250. A second violation within one year incurs a maximum penalty of $1,500, and a third violation within one year of the second carries a maximum penalty of $5,000. Each day a violation continues is a separate violation.. Fines typically escalate with repeat offenses and may result in misdemeanor charges for chronic violations.
What are the dog barking rules in Bend?
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Bend's rules: No specific decibel limits for animals are mentioned, but general prohibitions against 'unnecessarily loud' noise apply. Animal control can be reached via the non-emergency police number.. To report a barking dog, contact animal control at 541-693-6911 or the police non-emergency line.
When can construction work start in Bend?
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Bend's construction noise rules: Constructing, demolishing, altering, or repairing a building, street, sidewalk, driveway, sewer, or utility line is prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sounds from air, electrical, or gas-driven domestic tools, including lawn and construction tools, are generally permitted between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.. Violations can be reported to code enforcement, which can issue stop-work orders for unpermitted or off-hours construction.
Are there rules about loud music in Bend?
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Yes. Bend's ordinance: Using or operating a mechanical or electrical speaker or amplifier that creates noise plainly audible at the property line of a residence or noise-sensitive unit (other than the property where generated) is prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Noise Variance Permits can be obtained for events that may exceed noise levels or time limits.. Music exceeding residential decibel limits or plainly audible across property lines during quiet hours is a citable violation.
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