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?

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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.