Noise Ordinance Guide
Boca Raton Pickleball Noise Ordinance
What the Code Says
What Boca Raton's Noise Code Means for Your Community's Pickleball Courts
If your Boca Raton HOA, condo association, or club is planning or resurfacing a pickleball court, the rulebook is Article III of Chapter 10 in the City of Boca Raton Code of Ordinances. Boca Raton has the tightest residential numbers of any major South Florida market on this list: 55 dBA during the day and 50 dBA at night at a residential boundary, with night starting at 7:00 p.m. It is also the city where court noise is already in court. Every claim on this page is cited. Last verified September 5, 2026.
at a glance
Boca Raton Noise Rules at a Glance
Source: City of Boca Raton Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10 (Nuisances), Article III (Noise), Sec. 10-54 through Sec. 10-78. Last verified September 5, 2026. This page is part of our Florida pickleball noise ordinance guide, which is still in progress and covers selected cities only.
Daytime: 55 dBA (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
Sec. 10-72 deems noise excessive and unusually loud above 55 dBA at any point on or within the boundary of a residential area zoned for one- or two-family dwellings, and the same 55 dBA figure applies to apartment areas. Source: Sec. 10-72
Nighttime: 50 dBA (7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.)
Night conditions in Boca Raton start at 7:00 p.m., earlier than most Florida cities, and drop the residential figure to 50 dBA. Source: Sec. 10-72
Impulsive Noise Loses Another 5 dBA
The levels in Sec. 10-72 carry a correction factor of minus 5 dBA for noises of an impulsive, periodic or beating nature. Repetitive paddle strikes fit that description, which effectively tightens the residential figures to 50 dBA day and 45 dBA night. Source: Sec. 10-72
Plainly Audible Standard
No plainly audible distance test; excessive and unusually loud noise plus the Sec. 10-72 decibel standards
the code
How the Boca Raton Code Applies to Pickleball
01
Sec. 10-55: Premises Used for Recreation
No person owning or in possession of a premises may allow it to be used for business, residential, pleasure or recreation purposes if that use, by its boisterous nature, is excessive or unusually loud and destroys the peace of the neighborhood. That language reaches an amenity court inside a private community. Source: City of Boca Raton noise ordinance reference
02
Sec. 10-72: The Numbers Boards Should Design To
The measurement standards set 55 dBA day and 50 dBA night at a residential boundary, with day defined as 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The section is written around fixed mechanical and electrical noise sources, so a code officer may or may not apply it directly to a court, but it is the city's published benchmark and the one an acoustic consultant will measure against. Source: Sec. 10-72
03
Sec. 10-59 and 10-65: Conduct and Protected Areas
Loud and boisterous conduct that disturbs residents within hearing range is unlawful, and creating excessive noise within 500 feet of a school, hospital, park or church during its use is separately prohibited where warning signs are posted. Community courts sited near a clubhouse, school or park should account for both. Source: Chapter 10, Article III
04
Construction Noise During the Build
During construction, noise cannot exceed 75 dBA more than 10 percent of the time measured 50 feet from the site, and work is limited to 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, with no Sunday work unless the city manager grants a permit. That governs the court build itself. Source: Sec. 10-64
05
No Pickleball Language, No Court Hours
Chapter 10 never names pickleball, tennis or athletic courts and sets no play hours, so Boca Raton associations write their own. Source: Chapter 10, Article III
Planning a court in Boca Raton?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Boca Raton have a pickleball noise ordinance?
Not by name. Boca Raton regulates court noise through Article III of Chapter 10 in the Code of Ordinances, which bans excessive and unusually loud noise, covers premises used for pleasure or recreation, and sets decibel standards in Sec. 10-72. Pickleball, tennis and athletic courts are not named.
What are the quiet hours for pickleball courts in Boca Raton?
Night conditions run from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. under Sec. 10-72, when the residential figure drops to 50 dBA. Lawn mowers, edgers and trimmers are separately banned from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The city sets no court play hours.
Who do I contact about a pickleball noise complaint in Boca Raton?
The city's Code Enforcement Division at 200 NW 2nd Avenue handles noise complaints alongside Boca Raton police, per the city's own noise ordinance reference sheet. Communities outside city limits fall under Palm Beach County's code instead.
