Noise ordinance — Sebastian, Florida

Sebastian bans unreasonably loud noise at any hour under Chapter 67 of its Code, and sets fixed quiet hours of 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. for outdoor power tools and lawn equipment at homes.

The core rule is short. Section 67-1 of the Sebastian Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause any unreasonably loud, excessive, unnecessary, or unusual noise, and states that a violation occurs if it would be obvious to an ordinary, reasonable, prudent person. Sebastian uses no decibel meter standard; the test is what a reasonable neighbor would recognize. The chapter dates from Ordinance O-09-12 of September 23, 2009, amended by O-12-01 on February 8, 2012.

Only two rules run on the clock. Outdoor yard and power tool work at a residence is barred between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and Section 26-6 of the Code limits construction within Sebastian city limits to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, a rule adopted by Ordinance O-12-08 on August 22, 2012. Everything else, including a party in the Sebastian Highlands at 11 p.m., is judged by the reasonable person standard rather than a curfew.

Sebastian's Code names three common violations, late-night yard equipment, persistently noisy animals and amplified sound that disturbs neighbors, while leaving the list open to other loud noise.

Section 67-1 C lists them. The first is the operation of noise-producing lawn mowers, lawn edgers, weed trimmers, blowers, chippers, chain saws and power tools used at a residence out-of-doors between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The second is keeping any dog, animal or bird which causes frequent, habitual or continued noise that disturbs the peace, quiet and comfort of neighboring residents. The third covers radios, televisions, CD players, musical instruments, speakers, loudspeakers and amplifiers played so as to disturb neighbors. The City of Sebastian Code states that the enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive.

Responsibility is shared. Under Section 67-2, the person owning or managing a premises, however temporarily, any performer or disc jockey producing sound there, anyone playing music or controlling volume, and the business named on the occupational license are jointly and severally liable. A Sebastian business can give the city the name and phone number of a contact person, and city enforcement officers will try to reach that person by phone first to bring the volume down, which is the practical first step for any Sebastian venue with a band or a disc jockey.

A first Sebastian noise violation brings a warning, and fines of $50, $250 and $500 follow for repeat violations within 60 days.

Section 67-3 sets the sequence. A first violation of this chapter shall result in a warning, either oral or written, that details the violation. If corrective action is not taken within 15 minutes of the warning, or if a warning for the same offense was issued within the past 60 days, an enforcement officer may issue a citation: the first citation carries a fine of $50.00, the second citation must carry a fine of $250.00, and the third and each subsequent citation within 60 days shall carry a fine of $500.00.

Complaints go to the police department. The Sebastian Code Enforcement Unit, part of the Sebastian Police Department at 1201 Main Street, lists noise issues among the problems it responds to, alongside parking in the swales and oversized trailers. Its hotline, 772-388-4436 option 1, takes messages around the clock, with follow up by the next business day, and the unit also takes an online complaint form. Florida law prohibits anonymous complaints, so the city asks for a name and address before it investigates. For noise happening right now at night, the police non-emergency line is 772-589-5233.

Sebastian exempts safety signals, government vehicles and property, emergency repair work and any activity authorized by the city council or city manager.

Section 67-4 lists four exemptions. Noises of authorized safety signals and warning devices are exempt, as are noises emanating from any government vehicle or property, which covers city crews, police units and Indian River County Fire Rescue trucks working in Sebastian. Emergency work is exempt when it is needed to restore property to a safe condition after a public calamity or to protect people or property from imminent danger, and the Code names generators and equipment used by utility and communications companies during a commercial power outage, during restoration of service or during routine generator testing.

The fourth exemption covers any activity authorized by the city council or city manager. That is the route by which events approved by the Sebastian City Council or city manager can run amplified sound that would otherwise be judged under Section 67-1, subject to the terms of the city approval.

Boats on Sebastian waters and sound systems in city parks fall under their own Code sections, while aircraft noise at the Sebastian Municipal Airport is a federal matter.

On the water, Section 110-37 of the Sebastian waterways chapter provides that no operator or owner of a watercraft shall cause or allow excessive noise from blowers, machinery, motors, horns and similar equipment. Chapter 110, readopted by Ordinance O-23-08 on September 13, 2023, gives the city power to regulate all waterways within city limits and applies land conduct ordinances to people on the water, including on the Sebastian River and the Indian River. In parks, Section 74-4 of the parks chapter bars using a public address system, radio or other amplification at such a high volume as to unreasonably interfere with others' use of a City of Sebastian recreational facility.

Aircraft are different. The city's airport Noise Issues page states that Sebastian Municipal Airport does not control or direct aircraft that fly in and out of the airport, but that pilots have been notified of voluntary noise abatement policies. Complaints about low-flying aircraft go to the Federal Aviation Administration through the Orlando Flight Standards District Office, which asks for the aircraft registration number, time, place, direction and estimated altitude.

Last verified: October 10, 2026, on the City of Sebastian website.