SB26-098 • 2026

State & Local Noise Abatement Authority

Under current law, there are statewide standards for noise level limits for various time periods and areas, and noise in excess of those limits is a public nuisance. The statewide noise level limits d

Housing

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Sen. M. Ball, Sen. L. Liston, Rep. M. Brooks, Rep. M. Lindsay, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. W. Lindstedt, Sen. J. Marchman, Sen. R. Rodriguez
Last action: 2026-04-14
Official status: House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Postpone Indefinitely
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The extent to which local governments retain authority over noise regulation beyond statewide standards is not clearly defined.

State & Local Noise Abatement Authority

This bill modifies Colorado's noise control laws to exempt certain properties from statewide noise level limits, including those owned or controlled by the state or local governments and nonprofit entities hosting specific events.

What This Bill Does

Exempts properties owned or controlled by the state or a political subdivision of the state from statewide noise level limits.
Allows uses of property pursuant to a permit or license issued by a local government, addressing sound emitted, to be exempt from statewide noise level limits regardless of their restrictiveness compared to current standards.
Exempts nonprofit entities from certain noise level limits when using property for cultural, entertainment, athletic, or patriotic events.

Who It Names or Affects

State and local government agencies
Nonprofit organizations hosting specific types of events

Terms To Know

political subdivision: A part of a state, such as a county or city, that has some form of self-government.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how local governments can regulate noise abatement beyond the statewide standards.
It is unclear what enforcement mechanisms and penalties will be applied for violations of this legislation.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

L.012

HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Passed [*]

Plain English: Passed [*] HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

L.013

HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Passed [*]

Plain English: Passed [*] HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

L.001

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: Lost [**] Second Reading

The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

L.002

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: Lost [**] Second Reading

The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

L.003

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: SB098_L.003 Amendment No.

SB098_L.003 Amendment No.
___________ SB26-098 SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY SENATOR Zamora Wilson 1 Amend printed bill, page 3, after line 11 insert: 2 "(c) A PERMIT OR LICENSE ISSUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 3 SUBSECTION (11)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT LIMIT OR ELIMINATE A 4 PERSON'S RIGHT TO MAINTAIN AN ACTION FOR AN ALLEGED NUISANCE 5 UNDER SECTION 25-12-104, EVEN IF THE USE OF PROPERTY AT ISSUE IN THE 6 ACTION IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF THE PERMIT OR 7 LICENSE.".
** *** ** *** ** LLS: Clare Haffner x6137

L.004

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: Lost [**] Second Reading

The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

L.007

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: SB098_L.007 Amendment No.

SB098_L.007 Amendment No.
___________ SB26-098 SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY SENATOR Zamora Wilson 1 Amend printed bill, page 3, after line 11 insert: 2 "(c) (I) Prohibited content in residential proximity.
A LOCAL 3 GOVERNMENT THAT ISSUES A NOISE PERMIT OR OPERATING LICENSE 4 PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (11)(a)(II) OF THIS SECTION FOR AN OUTDOOR 5 ENTERTAINMENT VENUE SITUATED WITHIN ONE MILE OF A RESIDENTIAL 6 ZONE SHALL PROHIBIT THE BROADCAST OR AMPLIFICATION OF PROFANE OR 7 INDECENT LANGUAGE AT ALL TIMES.
8 (II) Strict liability for venues.

Bill History

2026-04-14 House
House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Postpone Indefinitely
2026-04-07 House
House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Lay Over Unamended - Amendment(s) Failed
2026-03-19 House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government
2026-03-18 Senate
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-03-17 Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-03-12 Senate
Senate Committee on Local Government & Housing Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
2026-02-11 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government & Housing

Official Summary Text

Under current law, there are statewide standards for noise level limits for various time periods and areas, and noise in excess of those limits is a public nuisance. The statewide noise level limits do not apply to the use of property for certain purposes.
The bill states that the statewide noise level limits also do not apply to the following:
The use of property owned or controlled by the state or a political subdivision of the state;
The use of property pursuant to a permit or license that addresses sound emitted and that is issued by a local government; and
The use of property owned or controlled by a nonprofit entity for a cultural, entertainment, athletic, or patriotic event.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 26-0693.01 Clare Haffner x6137 SENATE BILL 26-098
Senate Committees House Committees
Local Government & Housing
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN NOISE ABATEMENT101
PROVISIONS , AND , IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ,102
REESTABLISHING LOCAL AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO NOISE103
ABATEMENT.104
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill w ill be av ailable at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
Under current law, there are statewide standards for noise level
limits for various time periods and areas, and noise in excess of those
limits is a public nuisance. The statewide noise level limits do not apply
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 18, 2026
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
March 17, 2026
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Liston and Ball, Coleman, Lindstedt, Marchman, Rodriguez
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Brooks and Lindsay,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
to the use of property for certain purposes.
The bill states that the statewide noise level limits also do not
apply to the following:
! The use of property owned or controlled by the state or a
political subdivision of the state;
! The use of property pursuant to a permit or license that
addresses sound emitted and that is issued by a local
government; and
! The use of property owned or controlled by a nonprofit
entity for a cultural, entertainment, athletic, or patriotic
event.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-12-103, amend2
(11) as follows:3
25-12-103. Maximum permissible noise levels.4
(11) (a) This article is not applicable to the use of property by this5
state, any political subdivision of this state, or any other entity not6
organized for profit, including, but not limited to, nonprofit corporations,7
or any of their lessees, licensees, or permittees, for the purpose of8
promoting, producing, or holding cultural, entertainment, athletic, or9
patriotic events, including, but not limited to, concerts, music festivals,10
and fireworks displays. This subsection (11) shall not be construed to11
preempt or limit the authority of any political subdivision having12
jurisdiction to regulate noise abatement. T HIS ARTICLE 12 DOES NOT13
APPLY TO:14
(I) THE USE OF PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY THE15
STATE OR A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE;16
(II) T HE USE OF PROPERTY PURSUANT TO A PERMIT OR LICENSE17
ISSUED BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT ADDRESSES SOUND EMITTED ,18
INCLUDING SOUND LEVELS AND HOURS , FROM THE PROPERTY , WHICH19
098-2-
PERMIT OR LICENSE MAY BE MORE OR LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN THIS1
ARTICLE 12; OR2
(III) THE USE OF PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY A3
NONPROFIT ENTITY FOR A CULTURAL , ENTERTAINMENT , ATHLETIC , OR4
PATRIOTIC EVENT, SUCH AS A CONCERT, MUSIC FESTIVAL, OR FIREWORKS5
DISPLAY, INCLUDING THE USE OF THE PROPERTY BY A LESSEE OF THE6
NONPROFIT ENTITY OR BY A PERSON WITH WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE7
NONPROFIT ENTITY.8
(b) T HIS SUBSECTION (11) DOES NOT PREEMPT OR LIMIT THE9
AUTHORITY OF A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION HAVING JURISDICTION TO10
REGULATE NOISE ABATEMENT.11
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 25-12-108 as12
follows:13
25-12-108. Preemption.14
Except as provided in sections 25-12-103 (12) (11) AND (12) and15
25-12-110, this article shall not be construed to ARTICLE 12 DOES NOT16
preempt or limit the authority of any A municipality or county to adopt17
standards that are no less restrictive than the provisions of this article THIS18
ARTICLE 12.19
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,20
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate21
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for22
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state23
institutions.24
098-3-