Although residential communities do not have specific "quiet hours," it is important to respect the differing lifestyles of your neighbors with regards to noise. The parents next door may be putting their children to bed at 8pm, just when you're ready to turn up the stereo and vacuum.

Loud parties, unnecessary shouting, and amplified sound are all examples of violations of general neighborhood common courtesies. Neighborhoods are full of working professionals, families with children, and older adults who seek respectful neighbors in their community.

The Noise Control Act

The DC Code prohibits acts which annoy or disturb others, including shouting or making noise outside a building at night. The Noise Control Act prohibits any noise an average citizen would consider unreasonably loud.

Activities subject to the noise disturbance standard include, but are not limited to: musical instruments, loud speakers, amplifiers, unamplified speech, construction, and vehicle-mounted loud speakers.

Please be aware that a violation of the Noise Control Act has occurred if an average citizen would consider the noise unreasonably loud.

When in doubt go to your property line or community hallway. If the noise from your home can be heard it is probably too loud.

Disorderly Conduct

In addition to general noise violations, DC Code also addresses disturbances of the peace in the community, specifically it prohibits:

• Acts in such a manner as to annoy, disturb, interfere with, obstruct, or be offensive to others. 
• Shouting or making a noise either outside or inside a building during the nighttime to the annoyance or disturbance of any considerable number of persons.
• Causing a disturbance in any public conveyance, by running through it, climbing through windows or upon the seats, or otherwise annoying passengers or employees.
• Cursing, swearing, or make use of any profane language or indecent or obscene words in any public place.

Be courteous to those neighbors around you and request the same of them.   Avoid unnecessary noise in your neighborhood.