Noise Ordinances in Memphis, TN (2026)
6 verified noise ordinances for Memphis, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Memphis Code § 9-68-5 bans yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on public streets, with particular emphasis between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., whenever the noise annoys or disturbs the quiet, comfort or repose of people in a nearby hospital, dwelling, hotel or other residence, or anyone else in the vicinity.
Memphis Nighttime Quiet Hours, 11 PM–7 AM
Some RestrictionsMemphis Code of Ordinances § 9-68-5
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 any other type of residence or of any persons in the vicinity is prohibited.
Construction Hours
Memphis Code § 9-68-6 prohibits building erection, demolition, alteration, repair, and street or highway excavation in residential districts outside fixed hours: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and never on Sundays. Off-hours work requires a chief building inspector emergency permit capped at 30 days.
Memphis Construction Noise Hours Limits
Some RestrictionsMemphis Code § 9-68-6
The erection (including excavation), demolition, alteration or repair of any building or the excavation of streets and highways in any residential district or section, other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays is prohibited, except in case of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety, and ...
Barking Dogs
Memphis Code § 9-68-7 makes it unlawful to keep any animal, bird or fowl whose frequent or long-continued noise disturbs the comfort or repose of anyone nearby. There's no decibel meter or fixed duration test: it's a nuisance standard enforced on a complaint basis by animal services or code enforcement.
Memphis Noisy Animal Nuisance Ordinance
Light RestrictionsMemphis Code § 9-68-7
The keeping of any animal, bird or fowl which, by causing frequent or long continued noise, shall disturb the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity is prohibited.
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Memphis Code § 9-68-3 prohibits using a drum, loudspeaker or other instrument to create noise for the purpose of attracting attention to a performance, show, sale or display of merchandise anywhere in the city. The ban applies regardless of decibel level or time of day, though § 9-68-13(3) exempts reasonable use of amplifiers or loudspeakers for noncommercial public addresses.
Memphis Ban on Attention-Getting Show Noise
Significant RestrictionsMemphis Code of Ordinances § 9-68-3
The use of any drum, loudspeaker or other instrument or device for the purpose of attracting attention, by creation of noise, to any performance, show or sale or display of merchandise is prohibited.
Aircraft Noise
Memphis's vehicle noise ordinance sets no decibel limit for aircraft. Section 11-56-2(A) instructs officers measuring vehicle noise to disregard traffic, aircraft and other background transportation sounds when reading a car or truck's sound level, unless that background noise interferes with the reading. The city's separate Airports and Aircraft chapter, 12-76, regulates flight altitude and safety, not noise.
Memphis Excludes Aircraft From Noise Code
Few RestrictionsMemphis Code of Ordinances § 11-56-2(A)
The measurement of sound or noise shall be made with a sound level meter meeting the standards prescribed by the American National Standards Institute. The instrument shall be maintained in calibration and good working order. A calibration check shall be made of the system at the time of any noise measurement. Measurements recorded shall be taken so as to provide a proper representation of the ...
Vehicle Noise
Memphis Code § 11-32-15 requires every motor vehicle on city streets to run a muffler "in good working order and in constant operation" to cut excessive noise, smoke and gas; § 11-32-16 separately bans muffler cutouts outright. A companion horn rule in § 11-32-17 forbids sirens, unauthorized whistles and any unnecessarily loud horn blast.
Memphis Muffler, Cutout & Vehicle Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsMemphis Code §§ 11-32-15, 11-32-16
Sec. 11-32-15. Muffler required. No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a street unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, annoying smoke and the escape of excessive gas, steam or oil. ... Sec. 11-32-16. Muffler cutout prohibited. It is unlawful to use a muffler cutout on any motor vehicle upon a...
Looking for Shelby County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Memphis city rules.
Noise Ordinances in Shelby County →