Noise Ordinances in Hendersonville, TN: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Hendersonville or are thinking about moving there, noise ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Hendersonville has 9 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of noise ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Quiet Hours

Hendersonville's quiet-hour rule lives in Hendersonville Municipal Code Title 11 (Municipal Offenses), Chapter 4 (Offenses Against the Peace and Quiet). Section 11-402(1)(b) targets radios, phonographs, instruments and amplified sound 'particularly during the hours between 11:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M.,' and Section 11-402(1)(c) extends the same 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. window to yelling, shouting, whistling and singing on public streets when they annoy or disturb persons in the vicinity.

Key details: Code Section: Hendersonville Municipal Code Title 11, Ch. 4 (Offenses Against the Peace and Quiet). Residential Quiet Window: 11:00 P.M. - 7:00 A.M. (Sec. 11-402(1)(b) and (c)). General Standard: Sec. 11-401 - disturb peace by 'violent, tumultuous, offensive, or obstreperous conduct'. Source Ordinances: Ord. #1970-33 (Aug. 1970); Ord. 1997-32; Ord. 1997-33. State Backstop: TCA Sec. 39-17-308 disorderly conduct (Class C misdemeanor).

Violations of Title 11 Chapter 4 are enforced by the Hendersonville Police Department (non-emergency dispatch (615) 822-1111) and adjudicated in Hendersonville City Court. As Title 11 municipal offenses, fines are limited by TCA Section 6-54-308 to a maximum of $50 per offense for ordinance violations (unless the conduct is also a state misdemeanor under TCA Section 39-17-308, which raises exposure to Class C misdemeanor penalties of up to 30 days and a $50 fine). Each day a violation continues may be charged as a separate offense.

Construction Hours

Hendersonville expressly caps construction activity in Hendersonville Municipal Code Section 11-402(1)(h): 'Construction activities, including demolition and street repair, are permitted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and sunset Monday through Friday and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and sunset on Saturday and Sunday.' Work outside those windows requires written authorization from the Codes Director or designee for public-health, safety or community-good reasons.

Key details: Code Section: Hendersonville Municipal Code Sec. 11-402(1)(h). Weekday Hours: 7:00 A.M. to sunset, Monday-Friday. Weekend Hours: 9:00 A.M. to sunset, Saturday and Sunday. After-Hours Authorization: Written approval from Codes Director (public health/safety/community good). Municipal Street-Repair Exemption: Sec. 11-402(2)(b) - City, County, State night work allowed when daytime impracticable.

Construction outside the Section 11-402(1)(h) window without written Codes Director authorization is a Title 11 municipal offense, prosecuted in Hendersonville City Court with a fine up to $50 per occurrence under TCA Sec. 6-54-308. Each day of violation may be charged separately. Public Works street-repair work performed at night under Section 11-402(2)(b) (Repair of streets, etc.) by or on behalf of the City of Hendersonville, Sumner County or the state is expressly exempted when daytime work is impracticable. Complaints should be directed to the Hendersonville Building and Codes Department at (615) 264-5395 (Codes office) or to Police non-emergency at (615) 822-1111 for in-progress disturbances.

Barking Dogs

Barking-dog and other animal-noise complaints in Hendersonville are enforced under Hendersonville Municipal Code Section 11-402(1)(d) (Pets), which prohibits 'the keeping of any animal, bird, or fowl which by frequent or long continued noise shall disturb the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity.' Sumner County Animal Control (the Hendersonville Animal Shelter at 1 Executive Park Drive) handles primary animal-control response.

Key details: Code Section: Hendersonville Municipal Code Sec. 11-402(1)(d) (Pets). Standard: 'Frequent or long continued noise' disturbing 'comfort or repose'. Minute Threshold: None codified - qualitative test. Animal Control: Hendersonville Animal Shelter, 1 Executive Park Drive, (615) 264-5355. Police Non-Emergency: (615) 822-1111.

Section 11-402(1)(d) violations are Title 11 municipal offenses, fined up to $50 per occurrence in Hendersonville City Court under TCA Sec. 6-54-308. Each day of continuing barking may be charged separately. Sumner County also separately enforces TCA Sec. 44-8-408 (running at large) and rabies-vaccination requirements through Animal Control. For an in-progress barking complaint, call Hendersonville Police non-emergency (615) 822-1111; for pattern complaints, file with the Hendersonville Animal Shelter (615) 264-5355.

Industrial Noise

Hendersonville's industrial-noise enforcement runs through Hendersonville Municipal Code Section 11-403(3), which caps noise from any 'business or commercial facility' at 65 dBA between 9 p.m.-6 a.m. (Sun-Thu) and 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (Fri-Sat), and 75 dBA at all other times, measured at the outside wall of any residential structure in a residential zoning district. Hendersonville has limited heavy industry (the economy is dominated by retail, services and lake tourism), so Section 11-403(3) primarily reaches commercial-corridor and warehouse uses on Highway 31E (Gallatin Pike) and along Indian Lake Boulevard.

Key details: Code Section: Hendersonville Municipal Code Sec. 11-403(3). Source Ordinances: Ord. #2005-13 (Aug. 2005); Ord. #2022-21 (Nov. 2022). Night dBA Cap (Sun-Thu 9pm-6am, Fri-Sat 11pm-6am): 65 dBA at residential wall. Day / Evening dBA Cap (all other times): 75 dBA at residential wall. Measurement Point: Outside wall of residential structure in residential zone, 4 ft above grade.

Section 11-403(3) violations are Title 11 municipal offenses, fined up to $50 per occurrence in Hendersonville City Court under TCA Sec. 6-54-308. Continuing violations may be charged per-day. Measurement requires sound-level meter readings at the residential structure wall; complainants should request that Hendersonville Police bring a meter, or document with their own calibrated meter and photographs. Reports to Police non-emergency (615) 822-1111 or to Building & Codes (615) 264-5395.

Leaf Blower Rules

Hendersonville has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance and does not ban gas-powered leaf blowers. Residential and commercial leaf-blower use is regulated through the general anti-noise standard of Section 11-402, the construction-hours window of Section 11-402(1)(h), and (for commercial users adjacent to residential zones) the 65 dBA night / 75 dBA day cap of Section 11-403(3).

Key details: Leaf Blower-Specific Code: None. Gas Blower Ban: None. Codified Time Window for Lawn Equipment: None (general Sec. 11-402 standard applies). Applicable Standards: Sec. 11-402 (anti-noise); Sec. 11-403(3) (65/75 dBA for commercial facilities). Construction-Window Reference: Sec. 11-402(1)(h) (7 a.m./9 a.m. start) - directly applies to construction, not lawn care.

No leaf-blower-specific penalty. Excessive blower use is cited under Section 11-402 ('unreasonably loud, disturbing, and unnecessary noise') with the standard $50 maximum Title 11 fine, or under Section 11-403(3) (commercial facilities) measured at the residential property line. Report to Hendersonville Police non-emergency (615) 822-1111 for in-progress complaints; document time of day, type of equipment and address.

Hendersonville is more permissive than most cities when it comes to leaf blower rules. That said, there are still limits.

Decibel Limits

Hendersonville Municipal Code Section 11-403(3) sets explicit dBA caps for business and commercial facilities: 65 dBA between 9 p.m.-6 a.m. (Sun-Thu) and 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (Fri-Sat), and 75 dBA at all other times, measured at the outside wall of any residential structure in a residential zoning district. Section 11-403(1) also imposes the 'plainly audible at 50 feet' standard on motor-vehicle audio systems. Residential-source noise is enforced on the qualitative Section 11-402 'unreasonably loud, disturbing, and unnecessary' standard with the 11 p.m.-7 a.m. emphasis.

Key details: Commercial / Business Night dBA: 65 dBA at residential wall (Sun-Thu 9pm-6am; Fri-Sat 11pm-6am). Commercial / Business Day dBA: 75 dBA at residential wall (all other times). Vehicle Audio Standard: 'Plainly audible' at 50 ft / beyond property line (Sec. 11-403(1)). Measurement Point: Outside wall of residential structure in residential zone, 4 ft above grade. Residential-Source dBA Cap: None - qualitative Sec. 11-402 standard.

Section 11-403 violations are Title 11 municipal offenses ($50 maximum per occurrence under TCA Sec. 6-54-308). 11-403(1) motor-vehicle audio citations are routinely issued by Hendersonville Police during traffic stops or on complaint. Each day of continuing commercial-facility violation under 11-403(3) may be charged separately. Report to Police non-emergency (615) 822-1111.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Hendersonville actively enforces its decibel limits requirements.

Amplified Music & Events

Amplified music in Hendersonville is regulated by Hendersonville Municipal Code Section 11-402(1)(b) (radios, phonographs, instruments, loudspeakers) and Section 11-402(1)(k) and (l), which require a Loudspeaker/Loud Noise Permit issued by the city recorder before amplifiers, loudspeakers or sound trucks may be used to attract attention or advertise. Section 11-403(2) separately requires music at any facility within 50 feet of a residence or natural conservation area to be inside a totally enclosed structure or restricted to 7 a.m.-11 p.m. outdoors.

Key details: Code Sections: Sec. 11-402(1)(b), (k), (l); Sec. 11-402(2)(c); Sec. 11-403(2). Loudspeaker Permit Required: Yes - issued by city recorder under Sec. 11-402(1)(k). Permit Application Portal: css.hvilletn.org (online CSS portal). Outdoor Music Near Residence (50 ft): Inside enclosed structure OR limited to 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. (Sec. 11-403(2)). Residential Amplified-Sound Window: Permitted away from 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. (Sec. 11-402(1)(b)).

Operating amplified sound without a required Section 11-402(1)(k) loudspeaker permit, or in violation of the time and hour conditions on an issued permit, is a Title 11 municipal offense ($50 maximum fine per occurrence under TCA Sec. 6-54-308) and a basis for immediate permit revocation per the city's stated policy. Section 11-403(2) violations (outdoor music after 11 p.m. within 50 feet of a residence) are likewise Title 11 offenses. Report through Hendersonville Police non-emergency (615) 822-1111. Permit revocation: a single substantiated complaint can revoke an issued loudspeaker permit.

Outdoor Music

Outdoor music in Hendersonville is governed by Hendersonville Municipal Code Section 11-403(2), which prohibits any facility within 50 feet of a residence or natural conservation area from operating amplified music outside an enclosed structure except between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. City-permitted special events, mass gatherings, and City-owned outdoor entertainment facilities and parks are exempted. Loudspeaker / Loud Noise Permits from the city recorder are required for amplified sound that advertises or attracts attention (Sec. 11-402(1)(k)).

Key details: Outdoor Music Cutoff (within 50 ft of residence / nat. conservation area): 11:00 P.M. (Sec. 11-403(2)). Outdoor Music Start: 7:00 A.M. (Sec. 11-403(2)). Indoor Alternative: Totally enclosed structure (no time limit under 11-403(2)). Special Event / Mass Gathering Exemption: Yes - if permitted by City or its boards/commissions. City-Owned Outdoor Venue Exemption: Yes - Sec. 11-403(2) does not apply to City-owned entertainment facilities and parks.

Section 11-403(2) and Section 11-402(1)(k) violations are Title 11 municipal offenses, fined up to $50 per occurrence in City Court under TCA Sec. 6-54-308. A single substantiated complaint also revokes an issued Loudspeaker Permit per the city's stated permit policy. Report through Hendersonville Police non-emergency (615) 822-1111 for in-progress events.

Aircraft Noise

Hendersonville is approximately 20-25 minutes northeast of Nashville International Airport (BNA / KBNA) and roughly 15 minutes northeast of John C. Tune Airport (JWN / KJWN). Aircraft-in-flight noise is preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration; Hendersonville's Title 11 noise ordinance contains no aircraft-noise provisions and the city cannot regulate flight operations, routing or curfews. Recreational seaplane and aircraft operations on Old Hickory Lake fall under FAA and TVA authority.

Key details: Primary Airport: Nashville International (BNA / KBNA) - ~21 mi SW of Hendersonville. Reliever Airport: John C. Tune (JWN / KJWN) - general aviation. Local Aircraft-Noise Cap: None - federally preempted (FAA / 49 U.S.C. Sec. 41713). Lake-Area Seaplane Authority: FAA + Tennessee Valley Authority (Old Hickory Lake). Nashville Airport Noise Office: (615) 275-1755.

No city-issued noise citation for in-flight aircraft (federally preempted). BNA-area complaints route to the Nashville Airport Noise Office at (615) 275-1755 or via the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority noise complaint webform. Old Hickory Lake seaplane/aircraft complaints lack a clear local enforcement mechanism due to TVA + FAA preemption; persistent issues may be raised with TVA Police or the FAA Flight Standards District Office.

Hendersonville is more permissive than most cities when it comes to aircraft noise. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Hendersonville gives residents more room on noise ordinances. 2 of the 9 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

All of the above reflects Hendersonville's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.