Vermont Noise Ordinance Laws (2026): Quiet Hours, Fines, Rules

Vermont state law addresses noise mainly through two criminal statutes, and most neighborhood noise rules are set by towns. Under 13 V.S.A. 1026(a)(2), a person is guilty of disorderly conduct if the person, "with intent to cause public inconvenience or annoyance, or recklessly creates a risk thereof," "makes unreasonable noise," punishable by up to 60 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both (13 V.S.A. 1026(b)). A second law, 13 V.S.A. 1022, fines a person up to $50 for disturbing and breaking the public peace between sunset and sunrise "by firing guns, blowing horns, or other unnecessary and offensive noise."

State park campgrounds also have quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Beyond those rules, quiet hours and decibel limits for homes come from town, city and village ordinances, which carry fines of up to $800 whether the ordinance is criminal or civil (24 V.S.A. 1974, 1974a). To compare other states, see our guide to noise ordinance laws by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-10. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Vermont state law: disorderly conduct by unreasonable noise (13 V.S.A. 1026); nighttime noise that breaks the public peace (13 V.S.A. 1022); vehicle horns, vehicle condition and the 2026 motorcycle exhaust law (23 V.S.A. 1131, 1221, 1260); all-terrain vehicle mufflers (23 V.S.A. 3505); the Vermont Judicial Bureau's waiver penalty schedule for those rules; municipal ordinance powers and penalties (24 V.S.A. 1971, 1974, 1974a, 2291, 2121); sport shooting ranges (10 V.S.A. 5227); the agricultural nuisance protection (12 V.S.A. 5753); and state park quiet hours. It does not cover the text of any town, city or village ordinance, Act 250 permit conditions, zoning noise standards, lease terms, private lawsuits based on court-made nuisance law, aircraft or workplace noise, or the law of other states. Statute text is the version published by the Vermont General Assembly.

Vermont noise laws at a glance

Waiver amounts and ranges come from the Vermont Judicial Bureau's waiver penalty schedule; the statutory figures are ceilings.

Is loud noise a crime in Vermont?

It can be, under any of three statutes.

Disorderly conduct (13 V.S.A. 1026)

Section 1026(a) provides: "A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if the person, with intent to cause public inconvenience or annoyance, or recklessly creates a risk thereof: ... (2) makes unreasonable noise." Two elements must both be present: unreasonable noise, and either intent to cause public inconvenience or annoyance or reckless creation of that risk. The focus is on the public.

The penalty is in 1026(b): "A person who is convicted of disorderly conduct shall be imprisoned for not more than 60 days or fined not more than $500.00, or both. A person who is convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this section shall be imprisoned for not more than 120 days or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both." Act 51 of 2025 amended the section, effective June 9, 2025; the penalty text above is the current text.

Disorderly conduct also covers a person who, with the same intent or recklessness, "without lawful authority, disturbs any lawful assembly or meeting of persons" (1026(a)(4)). Section 1026(c)(1) defines that as "conduct that substantially impairs the effective conduct of an assembly or meeting," including conduct that "causes an assembly or meeting to terminate prematurely" or "consists of numerous and sustained efforts to disrupt an assembly or meeting after being asked to desist." A "meeting" includes a meeting of a public body (1026(c)(2)).

Noise aimed at a specific person (13 V.S.A. 1026a)

Under 13 V.S.A. 1026a(a), "A person is guilty of aggravated disorderly conduct if he or she engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person with the intent to cause the person inconvenience or annoyance, or to disturb the person's peace, quiet, or right of privacy and: ... (2) makes unreasonable noise." The penalty is in 1026a(b): "A person who is convicted of aggravated disorderly conduct shall be imprisoned not more than 180 days or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both."

Nighttime noise (13 V.S.A. 1022)

Section 1022 is narrower and lighter: "A person who, between sunset and sunrise, disturbs and breaks the public peace by firing guns, blowing horns, or other unnecessary and offensive noise shall be fined not more than $50.00." The section states a fine only.

It has one exception for employers. The section "shall not prevent a person employing workers, for the purpose of giving notice to his or her employees, from ringing bells or using whistles or gongs of such size and weight, in such manner, and at such hours as the selectboard members of the town, the aldermen of the city, or the trustees of the village may prescribe in writing."

Who sets quiet hours in Vermont?

State law sets two hour-based rules: the sunset-to-sunrise nighttime noise offense in 13 V.S.A. 1022, and quiet hours of 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. in state park campgrounds (covered below). For homes and neighborhoods, quiet hours and decibel limits are set by town, city and village ordinances.

Town ordinance powers

Under 24 V.S.A. 1971(a), "A municipality may adopt, amend, repeal, and enforce ordinances or rules for any purposes authorized by law." Subsection (b) requires each ordinance to "be designated as either criminal or civil, but not both."

The list of municipal powers in 24 V.S.A. chapter 61 is granted "For the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, welfare, and convenience." The chapter contains no power that names noise. Its powers include the power "(14) To define what constitutes a public nuisance, and to provide procedures and take action for its abatement or removal as the public health, safety, or welfare may require" (24 V.S.A. 2291(14)), and the power to regulate the use or discharge, but not possession, of firearms, which "shall not prohibit, reduce, or limit discharge at any existing sport shooting range" (24 V.S.A. 2291(8)).

The selectboard of a town, or the trustees of an incorporated village, "may prefer complaint for relief by injunction for the abatement of public nuisances," and "The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of such actions" (24 V.S.A. 2121).

Criminal and civil ordinance penalties

How a town noise ordinance is enforced depends on how the town designated it:

• Criminal ordinance: "(1) The violation of a criminal ordinance or rule adopted by a municipality under this chapter shall be a misdemeanor. (2) The criminal ordinance or rule may provide for a fine or imprisonment, but no fine shall exceed $800.00, nor may any term of imprisonment exceed one year. (3) Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense" (24 V.S.A. 1974(a)).
• Civil ordinance: "A civil penalty of not more than $800.00 may be imposed for a violation of a civil ordinance. Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate violation" (24 V.S.A. 1974a(a)). Civil ordinance violations, except municipal parking violations, where the penalty is $800 or less "shall be brought before the Judicial Bureau" (1974a(b)).

The Superior Court, "on application of the legislative body of a municipality, shall have jurisdiction to enjoin the violation of an ordinance or rule" (24 V.S.A. 1974(b)), and "The Judicial Bureau, on application of a municipality, may order that a civil ordinance violation cease" (24 V.S.A. 1974a(c)).

To find your town's quiet hours and decibel limits, check the ordinances posted on the town or city website, or ask the town clerk. Your town's ordinance will say whether it is criminal or civil.

Loud cars, motorcycles and ATVs

Horns. Under 23 V.S.A. 1131, "The operator of a motor vehicle, whenever reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation, shall give an audible warning with the horn of his or her vehicle but shall not otherwise use the horn when upon a highway." The Judicial Bureau schedule lists a waiver amount of $105, a range of $47 to $1,197, and 2 points.

Vehicle condition. Section 1221 provides: "A motor vehicle, operated on any highway, shall be in good mechanical condition and shall be properly equipped." The schedule lists a waiver amount of $105 and a range of $47 to $1,197.

Motorcycle exhaust (new in 2026). Act 153 of 2026, signed June 16, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, added 23 V.S.A. 1260. It requires that "(a) A motorcycle operated on a highway shall be equipped with an exhaust system that includes a muffler or other mechanical device designed to reduce the noise emitted by the motorcycle." Under 1260(b), a motorcycle is in violation if its exhaust system:

1. "has missing or removed internal baffles";
2. "has a cutout or bypass";
3. "has been modified to bypass the muffler system";
4. "is not equipped with a muffler that meets the requirements of 40 C.F.R. 205.169"; or
5. "is a straight-pipe or similar type of exhaust system that does not include any mechanical features to reduce the noise emitted by the motorcycle."

Under 1260(c)(1), "A motorcycle that violates the requirements of this section shall not pass an inspection required under section 1222 of this chapter." The section does not apply "when a motorcycle is operated in a race, contest, or demonstration of speed or skill at an authorized public exhibition held in accordance with applicable State and municipal laws" (1260(d)). The Judicial Bureau schedule lists a waiver amount of $134 for a motorcycle exhaust violation and $220 for a second or subsequent violation, each with a range of $47 to $1,197.

All-terrain vehicles. Under 23 V.S.A. 3505(b), "Subject to regulation by rule of the Commissioner, any all-terrain vehicles shall be equipped with a muffler system and such other equipment or devices that reduce maximum machine operating noise to a noise level of not more than 82 decibels on the A scale at 50 feet, in a normal operating environment." The schedule lists a waiver amount of $162 for the muffler requirement, with a range of $47 to $392. Under 3505(c), "No all-terrain vehicle shall be equipped in any manner that permits the operator to bypass the muffler system." Sections 3504 and 3505 do not apply to an all-terrain vehicle in a sponsored racing contest while it is racing, practicing or preparing for a race at an area provided for the purpose (3505(d)).

Snowmobiles. All snowmobiles must have an "efficient muffler" (23 V.S.A. 3205(a)(4)). Under 3205(d), "An individual shall not operate the following on the State Snowmobile Trail System: (1) a snowmobile manufactured after February 1, 2007 that does not display a visible and unaltered marking of 'SSCC Certified' ... on all critical components of the exhaust system; or (2) a snowmobile, regardless of the date of manufacture, with an exhaust system that has been modified in a manner that amplifies or otherwise increases total noise emission above that of the snowmobile as originally constructed." Under 3205(e)(2), "No snowmobile shall be equipped in any manner that permits the operator to bypass the muffler." The schedule lists a waiver amount of $622 for operation with an improper exhaust system, with a range of $47 to $622.

Public waters. The schedule lists "Excessive noise" under 10 V.S.A. 1424 with a waiver amount of $134 and a range of $47 to $392.

Shooting ranges

Vermont shields sport shooting ranges from noise suits. Under 10 V.S.A. 5227(b), "The owner or operator of a sport shooting range, and a person lawfully using the range, who is in substantial compliance with any noise use condition of any issued municipal or State land use permit otherwise required by law shall not be subject to any civil liability for damages or any injunctive relief resulting from noise or noise pollution, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary."

Subsection (c) covers ranges that need no permit: "If no municipal or State land use permit is otherwise required by law, then the owner or operator of the range and any person lawfully using the range shall not be subject to any civil liability for damages or any injunctive relief relating to noise or noise pollution." Towns also may not use their firearms-discharge power to limit discharge at an existing sport shooting range (24 V.S.A. 2291(8)).

The section does not "prohibit or limit the authority of a municipality or the State to enforce any condition of a lawfully issued and otherwise required permit" (5227(d)). For a range without the protection of (b) or (c), "A nuisance claim against a range may only be brought by an owner of property abutting the range" (5227(e)(1)). Such a range is presumed not to be a nuisance if it "was established prior to the acquisition of the property owned by the person bringing the nuisance claim" and its shooting frequency "has not significantly increased since acquisition," and that presumption "may be rebutted only by an abutting property owner showing that the activity has a noxious and significant interference with the use and enjoyment of the abutting property" (5227(e)(1)-(2)).

Farms and right to farm

Under 12 V.S.A. 5753(a), "No agricultural activity shall be or become a nuisance when the activity is conducted in accordance with generally accepted agricultural practices." To claim the protection, the farm "shall demonstrate that the person is in good standing with the State," for example by letters of good standing from the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Secretary of Natural Resources, or both (5753(b)(1)). A plaintiff "shall have the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence" that the activity is not conducted in accordance with generally accepted agricultural practice and, if so, the elements of the nuisance claim (5753(b)(2)).

The protection does not apply if the plaintiff demonstrates one or more of the following (5753(c)):

1. "A nuisance violation results from the negligent operation of an agricultural activity."
2. "The agricultural activity has a substantial adverse effect on health, safety, or welfare based upon objective, documented medical or scientific evidence that the agricultural activity was the proximate cause of the alleged effect."
3. "A reasonable person would find that the agricultural activity was a proximate cause of a noxious and significant interference with the use and enjoyment of the neighboring property."

Act 61 of 2025 amended section 5753, effective July 1, 2025.

State park quiet hours

Vermont State Parks set campground quiet hours: "Quiet hours are from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Please keep noise (music, talking, pets) to a minimum during these hours." Generator use is allowed from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

What to do about a noisy neighbor in Vermont

1. Check your town's ordinance for quiet hours, decibel limits and whether it is enforced as a criminal or civil ordinance.
2. Call the police non-emergency line for ongoing noise that may amount to disorderly conduct or nighttime noise under 13 V.S.A. 1026 or 1022.
3. Contact the town about a public nuisance; the selectboard may seek an injunction in Superior Court (24 V.S.A. 2121). For an ordinance violation, the town may also ask the Superior Court to enjoin it (24 V.S.A. 1974(b)) or, for a civil ordinance, ask the Judicial Bureau to order that it cease (24 V.S.A. 1974a(c)).
4. If you rent, Vermont law requires each tenant to "conduct himself or herself and require other persons on the premises with the tenant's consent to conduct themselves in a manner that will not disturb other tenants' peaceful enjoyment of the premises" (9 V.S.A. 4456(b)). A violation lets the landlord recover damages, costs and reasonable attorney's fees and is grounds for ending the tenancy on at least 30 days' actual notice (9 V.S.A. 4456(e), 4467(b)(1)), so tell the landlord in writing. See our guide to Vermont landlord-tenant laws.

Vermont law makes it unlawful to "Use, possess, or explode any fireworks unless the person has been issued a permit to display fireworks" (20 V.S.A. 3132(a)(2)), subject to the exceptions in that section. For holiday fireworks, see our guide to Vermont fireworks laws.

Related pages

• Noise ordinance laws by state
• Vermont landlord-tenant laws
• Vermont fireworks laws
• New Hampshire noise ordinance laws
• Massachusetts noise ordinance laws

This article provides general legal information about Vermont law, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Vermont or your town or city government.

Last updated: 2026-10-10.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the noise laws in Vermont?

Making unreasonable noise with intent to cause, or reckless risk of, public inconvenience or annoyance is disorderly conduct under 13 V.S.A. 1026, and nighttime noise that breaks the public peace carries a fine of up to $50 under 13 V.S.A. 1022. Towns set quiet hours and decibel limits by ordinance.

What are quiet hours in Vermont?

State law penalizes unnecessary and offensive noise that breaks the public peace between sunset and sunrise (13 V.S.A. 1022), and state park campgrounds have quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Quiet hours for homes are set by your town's ordinance.

Is a loud neighbor disorderly conduct in Vermont?

It can be if the neighbor makes unreasonable noise with intent to cause public inconvenience or annoyance, or recklessly creates that risk (13 V.S.A. 1026(a)(2)). The penalty is up to 60 days, a fine of up to $500, or both. If the noise is a course of conduct aimed at a specific person to disturb that person's peace or quiet, it can be aggravated disorderly conduct, punishable by up to 180 days, a fine of up to $2,000, or both (13 V.S.A. 1026a).

What is the fine for a noise ordinance violation in Vermont?

A criminal town ordinance may carry a fine of up to $800 and up to one year in jail, and a civil ordinance a penalty of up to $800 per violation, with each day counted separately (24 V.S.A. 1974, 1974a). Your town's ordinance sets the actual amount.

Are straight pipes legal on motorcycles in Vermont?

No. Since July 1, 2026, 23 V.S.A. 1260 makes a motorcycle with a straight-pipe or similar exhaust system with no mechanical noise-reducing features in violation, along with removed baffles, cutouts, bypasses and mufflers that do not meet 40 C.F.R. 205.169.

What is the ticket for misusing a horn in Vermont?

Using a horn other than when reasonably necessary for safe operation violates 23 V.S.A. 1131. The Judicial Bureau schedule lists a waiver amount of $105, a range of $47 to $1,197, and 2 points.

Can you sue a shooting range for noise in Vermont?

Not for damages or an injunction if the range is in substantial compliance with any noise condition of its municipal or state land use permit, or if no such permit is required (10 V.S.A. 5227(b), (c)). If neither applies, only an abutting owner may sue for nuisance, and an older range whose shooting has not significantly increased is presumed not to be a nuisance unless the owner shows a noxious and significant interference (5227(e)).