Neighbors Too Loud? You Should Know Illinois’ Noise Ordinance
In Illinois, if you make noise that interferes with the enjoyment of life, before or after these hours, you're violating a state ordinance.
Do you have neighbors who fire up their lawnmowers way too early in the morning?
Is there a crew working across the street and all their machines are firing up?
How about that backyard party next door playing music too loudly?
If you want to know if you have a legit complaint about a loud neighbor, you should know this ordinance.
Here's what the law says about noise violations in the state of Illinois:
415 ILCS 5/24 Sec.
No person shall emit beyond the boundaries of his property any noise that unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of life or with any lawful business or activity. [...]
There's been some work going on in both the neighborhood where I live, and where I work, and I've been wondering what rules we have to follow when we're making a lot of noise. When does the "Quiet Time" start and end?
When is "Quiet Time" in Illinois?
This is all I can find, on a state level, but it appears that local government can set their own ordinances. "Quiet Time" is generally designated between 10 PM and 8 AM in any area within 600 feet of a residential district.
Is An Ordinance Considered a Law
In case you were thinking there was some wiggle room on this noise ordinance because it's not called a law, you're wrong. I checked with my friend who went to Cornell Law School, and he sent me this link, that states:
An ordinance is a law or decree by a municipality. Put differently, an ordinance is a local law. Usually, ordinances forbid or restrict some type of activity.
This is what I found for how to file a noise complaint in Illinois. And, according to noisefree.org, there's a $75 fine for someone in violation.
I live in Rockford, and this is what I found at rockfordil.gov about filing a noise complaint in Rockford.