League City Council Advances ‘Unreasonable Noise’ Ban, Keeps Animal Clause

The League City Council has proposed an overhaul of its noise code that would generally prohibit "unreasonable noise," establish a special event sound permit process, and apply to amplified noises during nighttime hours.

During their October 14 meeting, council members voted 6-1 to approve the ordinance on first reading, with Tommy Cones voting against it. On Oct. 28, the proposal will be reread for the second and last time.

The law defines "unreasonable noise" as sound that, due to its frequency, duration, or repetition, disturbs serenity and comfort in a given area. According to city authorities, the proposal aims to enhance enforcement consistency while also allowing for flexibility in exceptional events.

According to the proposed guidelines, amplified sound between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. in residential zones would be considered inappropriate unless organizers obtained a special event sound permit.

Council member Tom Crews attempted to change the proposal by removing a portion that regulates animal noise, such as barking dogs, claiming that it was "so vague and open to interpretation that it is almost impossible to enforce." The amendment failed 2–5, with only Crews and Cones voting in favor.

Council member Chad Tressler stated that some locals misinterpreted the plan after the League City Police Department issued an informational post on sound permits. "It turned into an online dissection of our noise ordinance," Tressler told me. "It did not matter that the noise ordinance was not what was changing."

Officials from the city animal shelter informed Tressler that the purpose of the animal noise rule was to protect pets. "The first thing a dog does if it is not being treated well is to look for somebody to help by verbalizing that it needs help," he told me.

According to city papers, violations of the ordinance might result in misdemeanor charges, with each day a violation lasts counting as a separate crime.

If approved on second reading, the legislation will take effect immediately, enabling the city to issue sound permits and impose penalties for excessive or disruptive noise.