Noise Ordinances in Hendersonville, TN

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 6 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of noise ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Construction Hours

Hendersonville limits construction activity, including demolition and street repair, to 7:00 a.m. to sunset on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to sunset on weekends under Municipal Code § 11-402(1)(h). Contractors who need to work outside those hours must get written authorization from the Codes Director, granted only when the work is necessary for public health, safety, or the community's good.

Key details: Weekday hours: 7:00 a.m. to sunset (Mon–Fri). Weekend hours: 9:00 a.m. to sunset (Sat–Sun). After-hours work: Needs Codes Director's written OK. Maximum fine: $50 (§ 3-302(1)(a)). Court costs: $175 added per case.

Working construction, demolition, or street repair before 7:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. on weekends) or after sunset without the Codes Director's written authorization violates § 11-402(1)(h). Like other Chapter 4 offenses, a conviction is capped at a $50 fine under § 3-302(1)(a), plus $175 in mandatory court costs under § 3-302(2)(a), for total exposure of roughly $225 per citation.

Barking Dogs

Hendersonville outlaws a dog whose loud, frequent barking, whining, or howling disturbs a neighborhood's peace under Municipal Code § 10-215, part of the Title 10, Chapter 2 pet ordinance. City police and Sumner County Animal Control officers enforce it, and an owner who lets a dog become a chronic nuisance faces a court summons and a fine of up to fifty dollars under § 10-217.

Key details: Governing section: Municipal Code § 10-215. Maximum fine: $50 per § 10-217. First-offense mail-in fine: $15 (§ 10-214(3)). Second-offense mail-in fine: $25 (§ 10-214(3)). Enforcement: City police, Sumner County Animal Control.

A conviction under § 10-215 draws a fine of up to $50 under § 10-217. First offenders can instead mail in $15, and second offenders $25, under § 10-214(3) without appearing in court, though the City Judge may reject that plea and issue a warrant. Fines and costs unpaid after 30 days are collected like a General Sessions Court judgment, including wage garnishment and bank attachment.

Quiet Hours

Hendersonville's anti-noise ordinance bars loud radios, stereos, and sound devices that disturb neighbors, flagging 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. as the hours it enforces most strictly citywide.

Key details: Quiet hours: 11:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.. Covers: Radios, stereos, loudspeakers. Standard: Annoys nearby residents. Enforced by: Hendersonville Police Department.

Violating the anti-noise ordinance is a municipal offense; Hendersonville Municipal Court sets the fine, and repeat late-night complaints can bring escalating citations from the Police Department.

Vehicle Noise

Hendersonville bans car stereos, radios and other amplified sound systems audible fifty feet from the vehicle, on streets, parking lots, or driveways, public or private.

Key details: Audibility threshold: 50 feet from vehicle. Applies on: streets, lots, private driveways. Bass counts: reverberation included, words needn't be clear. Citation: Hendersonville Muni. Code § 11-403(1).

Cited as a Title 11 municipal offense against the vehicle operator or occupant; emergency, public safety, City, Sumner County, and utility vehicles on job-related business are exempt.

Decibel Limits

Hendersonville caps commercial and business equipment noise at 65 dB(A) near residences on weeknights and 75 dB(A) at other times, measured at the home's outside wall.

Key details: Weeknight limit: 65 dB(A), 9 p.m.-6 a.m.. Weekend late-night limit: 65 dB(A), 11 p.m.-6 a.m.. Other-hours limit: 75 dB(A). Measured at: 4 ft above grade, residence wall. Citation: Hendersonville Muni. Code § 11-403(3).

Municipal offense under Title 11, Chapter 4; the City can cite the business owner or operator for each measured exceedance of the applicable 65 or 75 dB(A) threshold.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Hendersonville bars outdoor amplified music within 50 feet of a residence outside 7 a.m.–11 p.m., and caps commercial noise at 65–75 dB(A) measured at nearby home walls.

Key details: Outdoor amplified hours: 7:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.. Business noise limit: 65 dB(A) at night. Off-peak nights: 75 dB(A) ceiling. Measured at: Residential structure's outside wall.

Amplified sound outside the permitted hours or over the dB(A) ceiling near a residence is a municipal-code violation, cited by Hendersonville Police under § 11-403.

The Bottom Line

Hendersonville's noise ordinances rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Hendersonville is broadly strict or permissive.

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.