Noise Ordinances in Nashville, TN (2026)
7 verified noise ordinances for Nashville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Metro Nashville bars business and commercial noise above 70 Db(A) near homes between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., with a relaxed 85 Db(A) limit inside downtown DTC/CF zoning districts.
Nashville Nighttime Noise Curfew
Some RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 9.20.040
No person or persons owning, operating, or having the care, custody, or control of any business or commercial facility shall be permitted to operate any equipment, vehicles, or heavy machinery ... or engage in any other business or commercial activity between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. which would emit ... any noise in excess of 70 Db(A) as measured ... within a residential zoning dis...
Construction Hours
Metro Nashville bans outdoor construction, repair, or demolition work between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. citywide (except on IWD, IR, and IG zoned parcels), tightening to 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. in summer and in three downtown subdistricts year-round.
Nashville Outdoor Construction Hours
Some RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 9.30.010
Except as provided in subsection B, it is unlawful for any person to engage in the outdoor construction, repair or demolition of buildings, structures, land, driveways, or appurtenances thereto, on any parcel, excluding parcels zoned IWD, IR, and IG, between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., except that during the months of June, July, and August, the foregoing restriction shall be between ...
Barking Dogs
Metro Nashville bans keeping any dog, bird, or animal whose frequent or loud continued noise disturbs neighbors' comfort: a violation is a public nuisance enforceable by court injunction, per Metropolitan Code of Laws § 8.12.010.
Nashville Barking Dog Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 8.12.010
It is unlawful for any person to keep any animal, dog, bird or fowl which, by causing frequent or loud continued noise, disturbs the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity. Violation of this section shall be declared to be public nuisance which violation may be enjoined by any court of competent jurisdiction.
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
Metro Nashville bans sound amplification equipment audible from a neighbor's property line, but downtown's DTC district follows numeric decibel limits instead.
Amplified Sound Limits in Nashville
Some RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 9.20.010
Except for properties lying within an area zoned DTC district and properties zoned CF district that are contiguous to those zoned DTC district, it shall be unlawful for any person to: 1. Operate or allow the operation of any sound amplification equipment so as to create sounds that are plainly audible from the boundary line of the nearest residentially occupied property. For multifamily struc...
Aircraft Noise
Metro's citywide noise ordinance does not cover aircraft or airport operations. Title 9 expressly exempts airport uses from every decibel and hour limit it sets.
Nashville Aircraft Noise Exemption
Few RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 9.10.030
9.10.030 - Exemptions. The provisions of this Title shall not apply to airport uses.
Decibel Limits
Metro Nashville caps overnight noise from business equipment, vehicles, and heavy machinery at 70 Db(A) near residential structures, rising to an 85 Db(A) ceiling for facilities in the DTC and contiguous CF zoning districts, between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Commercial Noise Limits in Nashville
Some RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 9.20.040
No person...shall be permitted to operate any equipment, vehicles, or heavy machinery incident to performing business or commercial functions...between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. which would emit...any noise in excess of 70 Db(A) as measured from a point as close as possible to the outside walls of any residential structure located within a residential zoning district affected by the ...
Vehicle Noise
Metro Nashville bans loud mufflers, cut-out exhaust and car stereos audible 50+ feet from the vehicle or 200+ feet for exhaust noise.
Nashville Vehicle Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsMetropolitan Code of Laws § 9.20.020
It shall be unlawful for any person to:1.Operate any motor vehicle...not equipped with a muffler in good working order...to prevent excessive noise...3.Operate a motor vehicle if the exhaust noise is plainly audible at a distance of two hundred feet or more from the vehicle...B.No person operating or occupying a motor vehicle...shall operate or permit the operation of any sound amplification sy...