Yes, Lexington has quiet hours. Can you report barking dogs, noisy neighbors?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lexington enforces quiet hours from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., limiting tools and construction.
- City code sections 14-70 to 14-80 govern noise complaints and enforcement processes.
- Kentucky law grants local governments authority to regulate noise locally.
Several Kentucky laws touch on loud mufflers and other noise pollution issues, but if you need to make a complaint about a noisy neighbor using a leaf blower at odd hours, your local noise ordinance will likely be more helpful.
Kentucky law generally grants local governments the authority to regulate noise, including with noise pollution studies and plans to control it.
Lexington’s noise ordinance in particular maintains overnight quiet hours that generally bar the use of power tools and construction work, for example, but there are some noteworthy nuances and exceptions. If you’re curious about what the city’s noise ordinance prohibits — or how to make a complaint regarding a violation — here’s what to know.
What time does Lexington, KY’s noise ordinance go into effect?
Certain provisions of Lexington’s noise ordinance are tied to quiet hours between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. seven days a week. These include a general ban on construction, using power or garden tools or using loudspeakers for noncommercial purposes during those hours, especially in residential areas.
Sections 14-70 through 14-80 of Lexington’s Code of Ordinances outline how the city handles noise disturbances and complaints.
Local regulations define a noise disturbance to mean any sound that:
- Endangers or harms the safety or health of humans or animals;
- Annoys or disturbs a “reasonable person of normal sensitivities,” or
- Endangers or harms personal or real property.
The noise ordinance describes specific acts that are prohibited, while also generally noting noise disturbances aren’t allowed on or across a public right-of-way or in public places.
This general rule doesn’t apply to public speaking that’s not commercial in nature or public assembly activities held on any public space or public right-of–way.
What activities does Lexington KY’s noise ordinance prohibit?
Section 14-72 of Lexington’s noise ordinance lists several activities as explicit violations.
Several prohibited activities touch on disturbances “across dwelling unit boundaries.” The ordinance defines a dwelling unit boundary as one that separates housing units. Examples can include the unit’s walls, ceilings and floors or the property line.
Prohibited activities under Lexington’s noise ordinance include the following:
1. Maintaining any machinery or equipment, the operation of which involves rotating or reciprocating parts or equipment in a way that creates a noise disturbance.
2. Operating or allowing the operation of tools used in construction, drilling or demolition work between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. There’s an exception for emergency work on public utilities or special exemptions granted by the mayor.
3. Operating or allowing the operation of power and garden tools — such as drills, saws, sanders, grinders, mechanically powered lawn and garden tools or lawnmowers — between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. or before 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. There’s an exception for powered snow-removal equipment.
4. Loading, unloading, opening, closing or handling boxes, crates, containers, building materials, garbage cans or similar objects that create disturbances during quiet hours.
5. Collecting waste or operating waste collection vehicles between 11 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. in a way that creates disturbances.
6. A general ban on using or allowing the operation of loudspeakers, public address systems and sound-amplifying devices in public spaces for commercial purposes. Loudspeakers and sound-amplifying devices are permitted for noncommercial purposes, but not between 11 p.m and 7 a.m.
7. Operating or allowing the operation of “powered model vehicles” between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. These are defined to include vehicles like model airplanes, boats, cars and rockets.
8. Operating, playing or allowing the playing of a radio, television, phonograph, drum, musical instrument or similar device in such a way that creates a noise disturbance.
9. Repairing, rebuilding, modifying, testing or operating any motor vehicle, motorcycle or motor bicycle or motorboat that creates a noise disturbance.
10. Keeping animals, including pets, that “repeatedly or frequently emits any sound.” These sounds can include barking, yelping, howling, meowing or squawking that creates a noise disturbance. For roosters in particular, Lexington’s city council voted in late 2025 to set a limit of one per household.
11. Playing loud sounds with radio or stereo equipment in vehicles on public property that creates a noise disturbance “audible to a person of normal hearing sensitivity more than 10 feet from such vehicle.” The ban notes words and phrases don’t need to be discernible and the sound also includes bass reverberation.
Are there exemptions to the noise ordinance?
Section 14-74 outlines a process for Lexington’s mayor to grant special exemptions to the noise ordinance. Typically, the person has to show complying with the ordinance would create an “unwarranted health hazard or an unreasonable economic hardship.”
The mayor can also require the person applying for the exemption to notify residents in the area of their application. Individuals who would be harmed by the exemption can submit statements to the mayor for consideration.
When it comes to granting the exemption, the mayor must balance the hardship to the applicant against harmful effects in the community.
Organized school-related programs, parades and similar activities are also exempt from the noise ordinance.
How is Lexington’s noise ordinance enforced?
According to Hannah Sloan, a spokesperson for the Lexington’s Police Department, officers respond to and investigate noise complaints.
“Individuals who need to report a noise complaint can do so by calling (859) 258-3600,” Sloan wrote in an email to the Herald-Leader.
There were almost 6,000 noise disturbance calls made to LPD in 2024, as reported by nonprofit CivicLex. More than 3,000 were investigated, but only 33 citations were issued.
Section 14-80 of Lexington’s noise ordinance states violations are punished with a minimum $50 fine and up to a $500 fine. A second offense within 12 months is subject to a fine between $100 and $500. If there’s a third offense in a year’s time, the fine jumps to at least $250 and up to $500.
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