Noise Ordinances in Knoxville, TN (2026)
7 verified noise ordinances for Knoxville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Between midnight and 7:00 a.m., Knoxville drops its residential noise ceiling to 60 dB(C), five decibels quieter than daytime, under City Code § 18-3(a)(1).
Knoxville Nighttime Noise Curfew
Some RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 18-3(a)(1) (Ord. No. O-507-98; Ord. No. O-26-2015; Ord. No. O-116-2018)
(1)Residential use.a.When the offending sound emanates from a residential use between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight, sound which has an C-weighted sound pressure level of 65 dB(C)...b.When the offending sound emanates from a residential use between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m., sound which has an C-weighted sound pressure level of 60 dB(C), or impulsive sound which has ...
Construction Hours
Knoxville exempts construction, demolition and paving from its noise standards: except in residential areas between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., when work needs an urgent-necessity permit from the building inspector under § 18-8(5).
Knoxville Construction Noise Hours
Significant RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 18-8(5) (Ord. No. O-507-98)
This exception shall not apply to such excavation, construction, demolition, repair, paving or alteration of buildings or streets in a residential use between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. except in case of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety, and then only with a permit from the building inspector.
Barking Dogs
Knoxville bans keeping any animal or bird whose frequent barking, howling or crying disturbs a neighbor's comfort and repose: one of eight noises the city names as automatically unreasonable under § 18-4(c).
Knoxville Barking Dog Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 18-4(c)(5) (Ord. No. O-507-98; Ord. No. O-116-2018)
(5)Animals and birds. The keeping of any animal or bird which, by frequent barking, howling, crying, singing or causing any other frequent or long-continued noise, disturbs the comfort and repose of any person in the vicinity.(6)Sound trucks. The use or operation on or upon the public streets in the city or on driveways or throughways owned by or leased to Knoxville's community development corp...
Leaf Blower Rules
Knoxville exempts leaf blowers and other domestic power equipment, like mowers, trimmers and saws, from its noise ordinance only between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Outside that window, the equipment loses its exception and is subject to the city's standard decibel limits like any other noise source.
Knoxville Leaf Blower Noise Hour Limits
Light RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 18-8(6) (Ord. No. O-507-98, § 1, 10-6-98)
Sec. 18-8. - Exceptions. None of the terms or prohibitions contained in this chapter shall apply to or be enforced against: ...(6)Use of domestic power equipment (including but not limited to power lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, snowblowers, tillers, saws, sanders, drills or similar devices) between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Knoxville requires a special noise permit from the office of special events for amplified sound that exceeds normal limits, restricted to Friday, Saturday or holidays, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., and capped at two permits per premises per year.
Knoxville Amplified Sound Event Permits
Significant RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 18-9(b)
Special noise permits shall be issued only for events occurring on Friday, Saturday or a federally recognized holiday, and shall be effective only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Special noise permits shall be limited to a single day, and no more than two (2) permits shall be issued to any premises in any twelve-month period, regardless of any change in ownership of the premises.
Decibel Limits
Knoxville limits sound measured at the property line to 65 dB(C) for residential daytime, 60 dB(C) overnight, and 80 dB(C) for commercial and industrial uses under City Code § 18-3.
Knoxville Noise Decibel Limits
Some RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 18-3(a) (Ord. No. O-507-98; Ord. No. O-26-2015; Ord. No. O-116-2018)
No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit sound from any source which, when measured from the real property boundary of the source of the sound, is in excess of the following standards:(1)Residential use.a.When the offending sound emanates from a residential use between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight, sound which has an C-weighted sound pressure level of 65 dB(C), or impulsive s...
Vehicle Noise
Knoxville bans playing a car radio, tape, CD or similar audio device loud enough to be heard fifty feet away, whether the vehicle is on a public street or parked on private property.
Knoxville Vehicle Stereo Noise Limit
Some RestrictionsKnoxville Code of Ordinances § 18-5 (Ord. No. O-507-98, § 1, 10-6-98)
Consistent with other provisions of this chapter, and in addition thereto, no person shall use or operate any radio, tape player, record player, compact disc player or any similar device in or on a motor vehicle located on the public streets of the city, property owned by or leased to Knoxville's community development corporation, or within a public park, within a public parking lot or on any o...
Looking for Knox County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Knoxville city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Knox County →