Durango's noise rules live in Chapter 16 of the city's Code of Ordinances. The first thing to know is that the city does not always need a meter to cite you. The chapter says a violation of its core prohibitions may occur without any measurement (City of Durango Code of Ordinances). The second thing is the clock. The city holds construction work to 7 a.m. through 7 p.m., and the state has its own decibel limits for everything else.
What does Durango's noise ordinance say?
Chapter 16 opens with a finding. Loud noises "which are prolonged, unusual or unreasonable in their time, place and use" harm public health, comfort and safety. The chapter then splits into sections you can look up by number (City of Durango Code of Ordinances):
- Section 16-3 and Section 16-8: the prohibitions, including unreasonable noise
- Section 16-4 and Section 16-5: how noise is classified and measured, with a table of permissible levels
- Section 16-6: motor vehicle sound pressure levels, plus Section 16-11 on mufflers
- Section 16-7: construction projects
- Section 16-9 and Section 16-10: exterior loudspeakers and designated quiet zones
- Sections 16-13 through 16-15: permits for relief, public events and temporary permits
- Section 16-16 and Section 16-17: penalties and the city's added remedy of an injunction
The table in Section 16-5 holds the numeric limits. We could not read its figures for this page, so check the Municode chapter for the current numbers before you argue a decibel point with anyone.
When can construction start and stop in Durango?
Seven in the morning to seven at night. The city attaches a one-page guideline to building and excavation permits that says noise should stay at a permissible level from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and that work scheduled from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. may draw a violation complaint (City of Durango). The building FAQ repeats the window in plain words: work is allowed between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (City of Durango). The same guideline tells contractors to keep dogs on site restrained and barking abated. A remodel that fires up the saw at 6:30 in the morning falls outside that window.
What are the decibel limits in Colorado?
The state sets a baseline that any city or county can tighten. Colorado law says noise is prima facie evidence of a public nuisance if it exceeds these levels, measured 25 feet or more from the property line (Colorado Revised Statutes):
| Zone | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. | 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | 55 dB(A) | 50 dB(A) |
| Commercial | 60 dB(A) | 55 dB(A) |
| Light industrial | 70 dB(A) | 65 dB(A) |
| Industrial | 80 dB(A) | 75 dB(A) |
Three adjustments follow. Daytime levels may rise by 10 dB(A) for up to 15 minutes in any one hour. Periodic, impulsive or shrill noise counts as a nuisance at 5 dB(A) below those levels. And construction projects are held to the industrial-zone levels for the period set in the construction permit. The statute also lets a city or county adopt standards that are no less strict than the state's. Durango has its own chapter and its own table of limits, and that city table is the one that applies inside city limits.
What about barking dogs?
It depends on which side of the city line you live on. Outside city limits, La Plata County's code treats barking, howling, yelping or whining that lasts 20 continuous minutes as a nuisance by definition. Shorter noise counts if it disturbs a reasonable person. It starts with a written complaint from one neighbor and a warning. The owner then has 10 days to fix the problem before a citation can follow (La Plata County). Inside the city, the construction guideline points to the city's animal ordinances for barking nuisances. Our dog license answer explains who handles animal complaints.
Who do I call about a noise complaint?
Start with the right number for where the noise is. Inside Durango, the city's Code Enforcement line is 970-375-4930 (City of Durango). La Plata County directs violation reports to dispatch at 970-385-2900, and the Sheriff's Office handles properties outside city and town limits (La Plata County). State law also lets a county or a resident ask a district court to abate a noise nuisance, though that is a last resort. For quieter living in general, see our neighborhoods guide, and for house projects that make noise, the seasonal home maintenance guide.