You can file a noise complaint two ways:

Allowable residential noise levels vary, but most fall within the following ranges: 55 dB(A) from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. and 50 dB(A) from 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. Exemptions: There are 17 exemptions for very specific circumstances, including snow removal and emergency sirens.

25-12-103 – Maximum permissible noise levels. (2) In the hours between 7:00 a.m. and the next 7:00 p.m., the noise levels permitted in subsection (1) of this section may be increased by ten db(A) for a period of not to exceed fifteen minutes in any one-hour period.

1. Call 3-1-1 (720-913-1311)
2. Use PocketGov to file a complaint online.

A. It is unlawful to make, create, or permit an excessive or unusually loud noise, or a noise which endangers public safety, or a noise which is harmful to any person, which can be heard without the use of an electronic measurement device or heard and measured in the manner prescribed in section 9.8.

Sound Clip Decibel Levels

Most local ordinances include “quiet times.” A typical ordinance prohibits loud noises between 11 p.m. and 7 or 8 a.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. or midnight until 8 to 10 a.m. on Sundays and holidays.

Night hours are 11.00 pm until 7.00 am. To reduce noise nuisance from houses and premises, the law defines a maximum amount of noise which is acceptable during night hours. When noise exceeds the permitted level, the district council can investigate and take action against the neighbour or other noise source.

Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. Saturdays 8am to 1pm.

In dwellings, the critical effects of noise are on sleep, annoyance and speech interference. To avoid sleep disturbance, indoor guideline values for bedrooms are 30 dB LAeq for continuous noise and 45 dB LAmax for single sound events. Lower levels may be annoying, depending on the nature of the noise source.

Noise that is unreasonable is: Loud noise after 11pm and before 7am. Loud music and other household noise at an inappropriate volume at any time.

Call the cops The LAPD suggests that noise complaints, from loud TVs to awful parties, are best dealt with by your local police station. Call them at (877) ASK-LAPD (275-5273). Do not call 911. If your neighbor complaint is more of the barking dog variety, try the city’s Animal Care and Control Department.

at a distance of 1 ft (0.3 m). In social settings people often talk with normal voice levels at distances ranging 1 to 4 metre. In such cases background noise levels should not exceed 55 to 60 dB(A).

Acoustic grenades can go roughly from 120 decibels to 190 decibels. German researcher Jurgen Altmann showed that a blast of 210 decibels or more affects the inner organs — the lungs — and could cause internal injury that could lead to death. A blast will impact the body, and would do so very violently.

Every sound has a decibel level associated with it. If an item is 52 dB(A), then it has a sound similar in intensity to a electric fan, hair dryer, a running refrigerator and a quiet street. Other common sounds include a blender at 90 dB(A), diesel truck 100 dB(A) and a crying baby can reach 110 dB(A).

Human screams can be quite loud, possibly exceeding 100 dB (as of March 2019, the world record is 129 dB!) —but you probably want to avoid that because screams that loud can hurt your ears!

Annalisa Flanagan

During speech, the cords vibrate and as they do, their edges bang against each other. Shouting, screaming or singing loudly for long periods can cause these banging edges to become swollen. If the vocal cords continue to collide too harshly, scar tissue in the shape of small hillocks (vocal nodules) may develop.