Wisconsin Noise Laws (2026): Quiet Hours, Loud Neighbors, Fines

In Wisconsin, quiet hours and decibel limits for homes come from your city, village, town or county ordinance; the state's own rule for loud neighbors is disorderly conduct. Under Wis. Stat. 947.01(1), "boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct" in a public or private place is a Class B misdemeanor when it occurs "under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance," punishable by up to $1,000, 90 days in jail, or both. State traffic law adds a 75-foot car stereo rule and muffler and horn rules, each a forfeiture. 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 Wisconsin state law: disorderly conduct (Wis. Stat. 947.01) and the Class B misdemeanor penalty (Wis. Stat. 939.51); the vehicle sound-amplification rule, its forfeitures and the local 50-foot option (Wis. Stat. 346.94(16), 346.95(5e), 349.135); sound-device impoundment (Wis. Stat. 66.0411); muffler and horn rules and their forfeitures (Wis. Stat. 347.38, 347.39, 347.50); the strict-conformity rule for local traffic ordinances (Wis. Stat. 349.06); city, village, county and local health board powers (Wis. Stat. 62.11(5), 61.34(1), 59.54(6), 66.0107, 254.51) and the civil route for ordinance cases (Wis. Stat. 66.0109, 66.0114); funeral disruption (Wis. Stat. 947.011); motorboat, ATV/UTV and snowmobile muffler and noise rules (Wis. Stat. 30.62(2), 30.80(1), 23.33, 350.095, 350.10, 350.11); sport shooting ranges (Wis. Stat. 895.527); public nuisance and right-to-farm (Wis. Stat. 823.01, 823.08); the DNR property noise rules (Wis. Admin. Code NR 45.04(3)(e), (k)); and the 2026 court deposit and bail schedule. It does not set out any particular municipality's or county's noise ordinance, and it does not cover federal property or other states.

Is it illegal to be loud in Wisconsin?

It can be. The statewide offense is disorderly conduct:

"(1) Whoever, in a public or private place, engages in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor." (Wis. Stat. 947.01(1))

Two features matter for noise. The statute reaches a "private place" as well as a public one, so loud conduct at a home can qualify. But loudness alone does not complete the offense: the conduct must occur "under circumstances in which the conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance."

Penalty for disorderly conduct

A Class B misdemeanor carries "a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both" (Wis. Stat. 939.51(3)(b)). Those are maximums. The Wisconsin court system's 2026 Uniform Misdemeanor Bail Schedule lists 947.01 disorderly conduct, Class B, at a bail amount of $150.

Disorderly conduct within 500 feet of any entrance to a facility used for a funeral or memorial service, during the service or the 60 minutes before or after it, is a separate offense (Wis. Stat. 947.011(2)(c)). It is a Class A misdemeanor (Wis. Stat. 947.011(3)(a)), punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, up to 9 months in jail, or both (Wis. Stat. 939.51(3)(a)). Violating the intent-based provisions of Wis. Stat. 947.011(2)(a) or (b) after a prior conviction under the section is a Class I felony (Wis. Stat. 947.011(3)(b)). The 2026 bail schedule lists 947.011 at $500.

Does Wisconsin have statewide quiet hours or decibel limits?

Not for homes and neighborhoods. The state statutes on crimes, nuisances, and city, village, town and county government contain no quiet hours and no decibel standard for residential or community noise. Those limits come from local ordinances.

State law does set hours or decibel figures in a few specific settings, each covered below:

• Camping areas and overnight moorings on DNR property: quiet hours from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (Wis. Admin. Code NR 45.04(3)(e)).
• Outdoor sport shooting ranges: local governments may regulate operation between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (Wis. Stat. 895.527(6)).
• Motorboats: 86 decibels on the A scale (Wis. Stat. 30.62(2)(b)).
• ATVs and UTVs: 96 decibels on the A scale (Wis. Stat. 23.33(6m)).
• Snowmobiles: no faster than 10 mph within 150 feet of a dwelling between 10:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. (Wis. Stat. 350.10(1)(g)).
• Vehicle sound systems: audible from 75 feet, or clearly audible from 50 feet where a local ordinance adopts that option (Wis. Stat. 346.94(16), 349.135).

Local noise ordinances: who makes the rules

Most Wisconsin noise rules are local, and the statutes give every level of local government a route to them.

Cities and villages. A city council "shall have power to act for the government and good order of the city, for its commercial benefit, and for the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and may carry out its powers by license, regulation, suppression, borrowing of money, tax levy, appropriation, fine, imprisonment, confiscation, and other necessary or convenient means" (Wis. Stat. 62.11(5)). Village boards hold a parallel general power under Wis. Stat. 61.34(1).

Cities, villages and towns. Nothing in Wis. Stat. 66.0107 "may be construed to preclude cities, villages and towns from prohibiting conduct which is the same as or similar to that prohibited by chs. 941 to 948" (Wis. Stat. 66.0107(2)). Chapter 947, which contains the disorderly conduct statute, falls within that range.

Counties. A county board "may enact and enforce ordinances to preserve the public peace and good order within the county including, but not limited by enumeration, ordinances prohibiting conduct that is the same as or similar to conduct that is prohibited by ss. 947.01 (1) and 947.02, and provide a forfeiture for a violation of the ordinances" (Wis. Stat. 59.54(6)). A county disorderly conduct ordinance is therefore a forfeiture route, separate from the state misdemeanor.

Local boards of health. As part of its power over animal-borne and vector-borne disease control and human health hazard control, a local board of health may adopt regulations and recommend ordinances covering "the control of rats, stray animals, noise and rabies and other diseases" (Wis. Stat. 254.51(5)(a)).

The penalty for a local ordinance violation is set in that ordinance. An action for violating a city or village ordinance "is a civil action" (Wis. Stat. 66.0114(1)(a)). Where a statute requires a county or municipal ordinance penalty to conform to the statutory penalty, the ordinance "may impose only a forfeiture and may provide for imprisonment if the forfeiture is not paid" (Wis. Stat. 66.0109). To find your rule, look up your city, village, town or county code on the local government's website or ask the clerk, and use the police non-emergency line for noise happening now.

Car stereos and amplified sound from vehicles

Wisconsin has a statewide distance rule for sound systems in vehicles:

"(a) Except as provided in s. 347.38 (1), no person may operate or park, stop or leave standing a motor vehicle while using a radio or other electric sound amplification device emitting sound from the vehicle that is audible under normal conditions from a distance of 75 or more feet, unless the electric sound amplification device is being used to request assistance or warn against an unsafe condition." (Wis. Stat. 346.94(16)(a))

Paragraph (b) of the same subsection lists further exceptions, including emergency vehicles responding to an emergency call, a pursuit or a fire alarm (but not returning from one), public utility vehicles, advertising, community events, theft alarms and motorcycles operated outside business or residence districts. The subsection also does not apply to "a local authority that has enacted an ordinance in conformity with s. 349.135" (Wis. Stat. 346.94(16)(b)7.).

Penalty. A violator "may be required to forfeit not less than $40 nor more than $80 for the first offense and not less than $100 nor more than $200 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year" (Wis. Stat. 346.95(5e)). The 2026 Uniform Deposit Schedule lists a base deposit of $40.00 for this violation and a total of $187.90 once the listed surcharges and costs are added.

Local 50-foot option. A town, city, village or county may, by ordinance, apply the same rule to sound "clearly audible under normal conditions from a distance of 50 or more feet" (Wis. Stat. 349.135(1)). Check your local code to see whether your community uses the 50-foot version.

Impounding the equipment. A city, village, town or county may, by ordinance, authorize an officer issuing a citation under 346.94(16), a conforming local ordinance or "any other local ordinance prohibiting excessive noise" to impound the radio or sound device used, if the person charged is the owner and "has 2 or more prior convictions within a 3-year period" (Wis. Stat. 66.0411(1m)(a)).

Mufflers, modified exhausts and horns

The muffler statute has two parts:

"No person shall operate on a highway any motor vehicle subject to registration unless such motor vehicle is equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise or annoying smoke. ... No person shall modify the exhaust system of any such motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle" (Wis. Stat. 347.39(1), (2))

For horns, "no person shall at any time use a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning or make any unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound by means of a horn or other warning device" (Wis. Stat. 347.38(1)).

The $10 to $200 range comes from Wis. Stat. 347.50(1), which covers violations of ss. 347.35 to 347.49. The totals are the amounts the court schedule lists with surcharges and costs.

Local rules must match. A local authority may enact traffic regulations that are "in strict conformity with one or more provisions of chs. 341 to 348 and 350 for which the penalty for violation thereof is a forfeiture" (Wis. Stat. 349.06(1)(a)). The 50-foot stereo ordinance under 349.135 is the express exception noted above.

Boats, ATVs and snowmobiles

Motorboats. The engine of every motorboat with an internal combustion engine must be "equipped and maintained with a muffler, underwater exhaust system or other noise suppression device" (Wis. Stat. 30.62(2)(a)). "No person may operate a motorboat powered by an engine on the waters of this state in such a manner as to exceed a noise level of 86 measured on an 'A' weighted decibel scale" (Wis. Stat. 30.62(2)(b)).

A local motorboat noise ordinance must match the state standard: "No political subdivision of this state may establish, continue in effect or enforce any ordinance that prescribes noise levels for motorboats or which imposes any requirement for the sale or use of marine engines at prescribed noise levels unless the ordinance is identical to the provisions of this subsection or rules promulgated by the department under this subsection" (Wis. Stat. 30.62(2)(f)). A violation is a forfeiture of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for the same offense again within one year (Wis. Stat. 30.80(1)).

ATVs and UTVs. No person may manufacture, sell, rent or operate an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle "constructed in such a manner that noise emitted from the vehicle exceeds 96 decibels on the A scale as measured in the manner prescribed under rules promulgated by the department" (Wis. Stat. 23.33(6m)). Each ATV and UTV must also have "a functioning muffler to prevent excessive or unusual noise" (Wis. Stat. 23.33(6)(e)). Violations are forfeitures of up to $250 (Wis. Stat. 23.33(13)(a)); the 2026 deposit schedule lists $30.00 for the 96-decibel rule ($175.30 with surcharges and costs).

Snowmobiles. No snowmobile may be operated "unless it is equipped with a muffler in good working order," and no one may modify a snowmobile, or operate a modified one, in a way that increases its noise above the level "emitted by the snowmobile as originally manufactured" (Wis. Stat. 350.095(1)(b), (2)(a)). No one may operate a snowmobile "between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. when within 150 feet of a dwelling at a rate of speed exceeding 10 miles per hour" (Wis. Stat. 350.10(1)(g)). Violations are forfeitures of up to $250, or up to $500 after 2 or more convictions for the same provision in the prior 3 years (Wis. Stat. 350.11(1)). The 2026 deposit schedule lists $75.00 for the muffler and modification rules ($232.00 with surcharges and costs).

State parks and DNR property

On state parks, forests and other Department of Natural Resources property, Wis. Admin. Code NR 45.04(3)(e) sets two noise rules:

"1. 'Devices.' Except in accordance with a written permit issued by the department, no person may operate any device, including an amplified speaker, outdoor electronic device, gasoline powered device, generator, chainsaw, air-conditioner or other device at a volume that interferes with the enjoyment of the area by others or is likely to cause a disturbance. 2. 'Camping quiet hours.' No person may make a noise at a level above that of a quiet conversation in camping areas and overnight moorings between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m."

The department may also post quiet zones, where no one may operate "a radio, boombox, musical instrument, tape player or similar noise producing device, unless the noise is confined to the person through the use of a headset" (Wis. Admin. Code NR 45.04(3)(k)).

Shooting ranges and farms

Sport shooting ranges. Wis. Stat. 895.527 defines a sport shooting range as "an area designed and operated for the use and discharge of firearms" and protects range owners and operators from noise-based civil liability, nuisance suits and injunctions. A range that was lawful when established stays subject to the state laws and local ordinances related to its use that were in effect on that date (Wis. Stat. 895.527(3)). Local governments also keep one hours power:

"(6) A city, village town or county may regulate the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. that an outdoor sport shooting range may operate, except that such a regulation may not apply to a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 165.85 (2) (c), a member of the U.S. armed forces or a private security person as defined in s. 440.26 (1m) who meets all of the requirements under s. 167.31 (4) (a) 4." (Wis. Stat. 895.527(6))

It also limits disorderly conduct charges: "A person who is shooting in the customary or a generally acceptable manner at a sport shooting range between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. is presumed to not be engaging in disorderly conduct merely because of the noise caused by the shooting" (Wis. Stat. 895.527(7)).

Farms. Under Wis. Stat. 823.08(3)(a), "an agricultural use or an agricultural practice may not be found to be a nuisance" if it is conducted on, or on a public right-of-way next to, land that "was in agricultural use without substantial interruption before the plaintiff began the use of property that the plaintiff alleges was interfered with," and it "does not present a substantial threat to public health or safety." Fee shifting runs one way: "the court shall award litigation expenses to the defendant in any action in which an agricultural use or agricultural practice is alleged to be a nuisance if the agricultural use or agricultural practice is not found to be a nuisance" (Wis. Stat. 823.08(4)(b)).

What you can do about a noisy neighbor

1. Check the local ordinance. Your city, village, town or county code sets the hours and limits that apply on your street.
2. Call the police non-emergency line for noise in progress. Officers can act under the local ordinance or, where the conduct is unreasonably loud and tends to cause or provoke a disturbance, under Wis. Stat. 947.01(1).
3. Consider a nuisance action for persistent problems. "Any person, county, city, village or town may maintain an action to recover damages or to abate a public nuisance from which injuries peculiar to the complainant are suffered, so far as necessary to protect the complainant's rights and to obtain an injunction to prevent the same" (Wis. Stat. 823.01). Chapter 823 has no section aimed specifically at noise, so a lawyer licensed in Wisconsin can explain whether a private nuisance claim fits your facts.
4. Renters can review the lease and the state rules in our guide to Wisconsin landlord-tenant laws. For holiday noise, see Wisconsin fireworks laws.

Related

• Noise ordinance laws by state
• Wisconsin landlord-tenant laws
• Wisconsin fireworks laws
• Minnesota noise ordinance laws
• Michigan noise ordinance laws

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

Last updated: 2026-10-10.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the noise laws in Wisconsin?

Unreasonably loud conduct that tends to cause or provoke a disturbance is disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor (Wis. Stat. 947.01(1)). Quiet hours and decibel limits come from city, village, town and county ordinances, and state traffic law covers car stereos and mufflers (Wis. Stat. 346.94(16), 347.39).

What are the quiet hours in Wisconsin?

Quiet hours for homes and neighborhoods are set by your city, village, town or county ordinance. State rules set hours in a few narrow settings: 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. camping quiet hours on DNR property (Wis. Admin. Code NR 45.04(3)(e)), local power to limit outdoor shooting ranges between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. (Wis. Stat. 895.527(6)), and a 10 mph limit for snowmobiles within 150 feet of a dwelling from 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Wis. Stat. 350.10(1)(g)).

What is the fine for disorderly conduct for noise in Wisconsin?

Disorderly conduct is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both (Wis. Stat. 939.51(3)(b)). The 2026 Uniform Misdemeanor Bail Schedule lists it at $150.

Is a loud car stereo illegal in Wisconsin?

Yes, if sound from the vehicle is audible under normal conditions from 75 or more feet (Wis. Stat. 346.94(16)). The forfeiture is $40 to $80 for a first offense and $100 to $200 for a second within a year, and a local ordinance may lower the distance to 50 feet (Wis. Stat. 346.95(5e), 349.135).

Are loud exhausts illegal in Wisconsin?

A vehicle must have an adequate muffler that prevents excessive or unusual noise, and no one may modify the exhaust to make it louder than the original muffler (Wis. Stat. 347.39). The forfeiture range is $10 to $200; the scheduled deposit is $30 for a missing or defective muffler and $50 for a cutout or modified exhaust.

Can I call the police on a loud neighbor in Wisconsin?

Police can enforce the local noise ordinance or, where the conduct is unreasonably loud and tends to cause or provoke a disturbance, the state disorderly conduct statute, which applies in private places too (Wis. Stat. 947.01(1)).

Can I sue a farm or shooting range over noise in Wisconsin?

State law limits those suits. A qualifying farm use that predates your use may not be found a nuisance, and the court must award the farmer litigation expenses if it is not (Wis. Stat. 823.08(3), (4)); shooting range noise is protected under Wis. Stat. 895.527, though local governments may limit outdoor range hours between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.