Noise Ordinances in Decatur, GA (2026)
7 verified noise ordinances for Decatur, Georgia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on public streets in the City of Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia is called out as a prohibited noise "particularly" between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. under Code § 42-59(3), and is barred at any hour if it disturbs a nearby home or hospital.
Decatur, GA Late-Night Street Noise Ban
Light RestrictionsDecatur Code of Ordinances § 42-59(3)
(3)Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on streets. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any hospital, dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, or of persons in the vicinity.
Construction Hours
Building erection, demolition, alteration, repair and street excavation within 300 feet of any residential zoning district in Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia may run only 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, under Code § 42-59(8), absent an emergency permit.
Decatur, GA Construction Noise Hours
Some RestrictionsDecatur Code of Ordinances § 42-59(8)
(8)Building operations, excavation of streets; permit from city manager. The erection (including excavation and site development), demolition, alteration or repair of any building in or within 300 feet of any residential zoning district in the city, and the excavation of streets and highways in or within 300 feet of any residential zoning district in the city, other than between the hours of 7:...
Barking Dogs
Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia treats a dog as a nuisance "barking dog" once it barks, bays, cries or howls continuously for ten minutes, or intermittently for thirty minutes or more, disturbing anyone, under Code § 42-59(4), regardless of whether the dog is on private property.
Decatur, GA Barking Dog Noise Standard
Some RestrictionsDecatur Code of Ordinances § 42-59(4)
(4)Animals. The owning, possessing or harboring of any animal which frequently, or for continued duration, howls, barks, meows, squawks or makes other sound which creates excessive and unnecessary noise across a residential or commercial real property line or within a noise sensitive area. For the purposes of this subsection the term "barking dog" shall mean a dog that barks, bays, cries, howls...
Leaf Blower Rules
Decatur, Georgia's noise ordinance restricts landscape maintenance equipment, including leaf blowers, lawn mowers, weed trimmers and chainsaws, to daytime hours: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends, under Code of Ordinances § 42-59(14)d.
Decatur GA Leaf Blower Hour Limits
Some RestrictionsDecatur Code of Ordinances § 42-59(14)d
d.Landscape maintenance equipment. The use of landscape maintenance equipment, commercial and/or industrial power tools used for landscaping and yard maintenance before the hour of 7:00 a.m. and after the hour of 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and before the hour of 9:00 a.m. and after the hour of 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The term "landscape maintenance equipment" includes, but is not limited t...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Loudspeakers, sound amplifiers and similar equipment are barred within or near residential and "noise sensitive" areas of the City of Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 10:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. on weekends and holidays, under Code § 42-59(2)c.
Decatur, GA Amplified Sound Curfew
Some RestrictionsDecatur Code of Ordinances § 42-59(2)c
(2)Radios, televisions, musical instruments and similar devices. The following uses of radios, televisions, musical instruments and similar devices are prohibited: ... c.Loudspeakers and sound amplifiers. The using or operating of any loudspeaker, loudspeaker system, sound amplifier or other similar device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, and 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. ...
Decibel Limits
The City of Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia caps sound at the property line to 65 dB(A) between 7:00 a.m. and 9:59 p.m. and 60 dB(A) between 10:00 p.m. and 6:59 a.m., under Code § 42-59(16)a, measured with an ANSI A-weighted sound meter.
Decatur, GA Noise Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsDecatur Code of Ordinances § 42-59(14)b, (16)a
b.For any source of sound, the sound level shall not exceed the maximum permissible sound level limit set forth in [subsection (16)] by 15 dB(A) for all land use categories. ... (16)Maximum permissible sound levels.a.No person shall operate or cause to be operated any source of sound from any location in such a manner as to create a sound level which exceeds the limit of 65 dB(A) between the ho...
Vehicle Noise
In Decatur, Georgia (DeKalb County), the noise ordinance bans blowing a vehicle horn except as a genuine danger signal, playing a car radio loud enough to be heard 50 feet away, and discharging vehicle exhaust without a muffler that prevents loud or explosive noise, all enforced under Code of Ordinances § 42-59.
Decatur GA Vehicle Noise, Horn and Muffler Rules
Some RestrictionsDecatur Code of Ordinances § 42-59(1), (2)b, (7)
(1)Blowing horns or signaling devices. The sounding or blowing of any horn or signal device on any automobile, truck, bus, motorcycle or other vehicle while not in motion, except as a danger signal if another vehicle is approaching apparently out of control, or if in motion only as a danger signal after or as brakes are being applied and deceleration of the vehicle is intended; the creation by ...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Decatur city rules.
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