AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- UNREASONABLE NOISE LEVELS (Repeals the provisions of chapter 45.1 of title 11, regarding unreasonable noise levels.)

S2276

2026 -- S 2276
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- UNREASONABLE NOISE LEVELS

Introduced By:
Senators Burke, Ciccone, Thompson, Appollonio, Pearson, Tikoian, and
Raptakis

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Housing & Municipal Government
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 11-45.1-1, 11-45.1-2 and 11-45.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter
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11-45.1 entitled "Unreasonable Noise Levels" are hereby repealed.
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11-45.1-1. Declaration of policy.
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It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state to prohibit unreasonable, excessive and
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annoying noise levels from all sources subject to its police power. At certain levels, low frequency
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sound (between 100-20 cps) when substantially amplified, often referred to as sub-woofer
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frequency, can be extremely penetrating, disturbing and poses a danger to the health and safety of
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the individual using equipment creating the sound, and to other individuals in the immediate area
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from which the sound is being generated. The noise being generated may originate from radios,
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CD players, DVD players, tape players, televisions and other audio-producing equipment.
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11-45.1-2. Violations of acceptable noise levels.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any equipment as set forth in § 11-45.1-1
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from which the sound created by this equipment is capable of penetrating a closed vehicle from
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twenty (20) feet away from the location at which the sound is being generated, or heard from one
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hundred (100) feet away by a person outside from which the sound is originating. This section shall
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include, but not be limited to, sound electronically generated by autos, trucks, motor homes, mobile
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homes, houses, apartment buildings, condominiums, commercial buildings, or from any type of
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portable sound producing equipment that can be carried or placed outdoors which through its
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operation exceeds the provision of this chapter. All state and municipal vehicles shall be exempt

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from the provisions of this chapter, nor any person firm, corporation or other legal entity which
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holds a valid state or municipal entertainment license to sponsor a parade, carnival or other similar
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special event.
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11-45.1-3. Penalties.
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Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject
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to a fine in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100) for a first offense, two hundred dollars ($200)
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for a second offense, and three hundred dollars ($300) for the third and any subsequent offense.
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SECTION 2. Section 45-2-57 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-2 entitled "General
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Powers" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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45-2-57.
Town of Richmond — Noise pollution
Noise levels.
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(a)

For the purpose of promoting the public health, safety and general welfare, the town
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council of the town of Richmond

Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to
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the contrary, cities and towns
shall have the power in accordance with the provisions of this section
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to establish by ordinance standards for the control of noise originating within the limits of the
city
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or
town. Without limiting the generality of the aforementioned, such ordinance shall:
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(1) Establish standards for the control of noise originating within the limits of the
city or

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town by setting maximum permissible sound levels for various activities and noise sources in order
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to protect the public health, safety and general welfare, provided that the regulation of noise from
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any particular source has not been preempted by state or federal law or regulation;
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(2) Regulate noise pollution based on factors including but not limited to the volume of the
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noise, the intensity of the noise, whether the nature of the noise is usual or unusual, whether the
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origin of the noise is natural or unnatural, the volume and intensity of the background noise, if any,
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the proximity of the noise to residential dwellings, the location from which the noise emanates, the
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density of inhabitation of the area within which the noise emanates, the time of day or night the
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noise occurs, the duration of the noise, whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent or constant, and
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whether the noise is produced by a commercial or noncommercial activity;
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(3) Establish use districts for regulation of noise, establish maximum permissible sound
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levels according to receiving land use, and provide that measurement of sound or noise shall be
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made with a sound level meter and octave band analyzer meeting the standards prescribed by the
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American Standards Association;
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(4) Include definitions of words, terms and phrases necessary for the enforcement of the
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ordinance, and provide that definitions of technical terms not defined in the ordinance shall be
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obtained from publications of acoustical terminology issued by American National Standards
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Institute or its successor body;

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(5) Provide that limitations shall not apply to sound from certain sources
,
including
,
but
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not limited to
,
emergency vehicles and snow removal equipment;
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(6) Provide for enforcement by police department and/or by the
city or
town solicitor, who
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may institute an action for injunctive relief together with an action for penalties in the case of
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continuing violations;
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(7) Provide the
city or
town council with the authority to grant sound variances after a
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public hearing, establish criteria for the granting of such variances and providing the
city or
town
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council with the authority to impose conditions on such variances; and
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(8) Establish penalties for violation consistent with those established by state law for
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violation of municipal ordinances, provide the police department with the authority to issue
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warnings and cease and desist orders, and provide that each day of noise disturbance shall be
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considered a separate offense.
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(b) Original jurisdiction for enforcement of this section shall be within the municipal court
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of the city or town issuing the violation; provided, however, that in the event a city or town does
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not maintain a municipal court, original jurisdiction shall be within the Rhode Island traffic
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tribunal.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- UNREASONABLE NOISE LEVELS
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This act would repeal the provisions of chapter 45.1 of title 11, regarding unreasonable
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noise levels. This act would also provide that cities and towns would have the power to establish,
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by ordinance, standards for the control of noise originating within the municipality.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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