Under the Bellevue City Code, noise emanating from construction sites is prohibited outside of the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. No construction site noise is permitted on Sundays and legal holidays.
If after-hours sounds from a construction site are clearly audible across a real property boundary or at least 75 feet from their source, they will be considered a noise disturbance (BCC 9.18.040.A.4).
Exceptions
The following sounds are exempt from BCC 9.18 at all times if the property where the sounds are heard is in a commercial or industrial zone; if the property where the sounds are heard is in a residential zone, the sounds are exempt from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends:
- Sounds created by the repair or installation of essential utility services and streets
- Sounds relating to temporary repair, addition or maintenance projects on existing single- family homes, grounds and appurtenances (except that sounds created by heavy equipment are restricted to the general construction-site hours above)
Construction Site Noise Permit for Expanded Hours
Hours for construction-related sound may be expanded beyond the hours stated in the code when exempted by a permit issued by the Development Services Department. Expanded hours may be authorized to accommodate:
- Transportation mitigation (such as evening haul routes)
- Construction on schools and essential government facilities that cannot be undertaken during exempt hours
- Site stabilization in the fall prior to the onset of winter weather
- Emergency work
See the noise permit requirements to apply for an expanded hours construction noise permit.
Construction Site Noise Complaints
Construction site noise disturbances outside of exempt hours are civil violations of the City Code, and the city will investigate complaints. Complaints about construction site noise are reported by calling 911. Police will have a list of permits for which expanded hours have been granted to construction sites. If the construction site complained about is not on that list or if the noise is outside of the expanded hours shown on the permit, a police officer will be dispatched to the construction site.
If the officer finds noise from the site is clearly audible across real property boundaries or at least 75 feet from its source, the officer may order construction activity producing noise to be halted. Any noise disturbance observed by the police officer will be documented in a case report forwarded to Code Compliance.
If a pattern of complaints is received concerning a construction site, city staff may monitor the site to document noise disturbances.
Construction Site Noise Mitigation
- Conspicuously post the allowed hours of construction at the site, as required by the construction permit(s). Development Services provides a placard showing the construction hours with each permit.
- Prepare bulletins about the scope of the construction project and the general expected schedule of construction activities. Distribute those bulletins to the property managers and/or occupants of surrounding buildings. Have a supply of bulletins available on the fence of the construction site for passers-by. Update the bulletin regularly.
- Provide project contact information, including a regularly-monitored phone number, for neighbors to call and discuss noise disturbance issues. Frequently complaints can be handled by construction- site management directly, without a report to the city.
- Schedule deliveries to be made and completed within the exempt hours.
- Schedule construction activities such as crane work and concrete pumping to take place entirely within exempt hours, unless expanded hours have been authorized in writing by the department director or designated city representative. Maintenance and equipment clean-up and storage must be completed within allowed hours.
- Continually brief construction crews and subcontractors on the noise code requirements for construction sites.
This information is intended to provide guidance in applying certain regulations and is for informational use only. It is not a substitute for the Bellevue Noise Control Code (BCC 9.18) or other city codes.