Noise Ordinances in Knox County, TN (2026)
7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Knox County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
Quiet Hours
Knox County's general noise chapter drops the residential decibel ceiling from 65 dB(A) in the daytime to 60 dB(A) between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and separately bans refuse-truck operation and most construction work in residential areas during that same nighttime window.
Nighttime Quiet Hours in Knox County
Some RestrictionsKnox County Code § 10-92 (2018 IPMC Amendments), Ch. 12 §§ 1201, 1203, 1205
Section 1203. Use Regulations. ... 1.Residential use.a.When the offending sound emanates from a residential use between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 PM, sound which has an A-weighted sound pressure level of 65 dB(A), or impulsive sound which has an A-weighted sound pressure level of 80 dB(A).b.When the offending sound emanates from a residential use between the hours of 10:00 PM and 7:00 a....
Construction Hours
Knox County's noise chapter exempts routine excavation, construction and demolition from its decibel and nuisance rules, but that exemption drops away between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in residential areas unless a permit is obtained from the building inspector for urgent work.
Construction Noise Hours in Knox County TN
Some RestrictionsKnox County Code § 10-92 (2018 IPMC, Chapter 12, Section 1205(5))
Section 1205. Exceptions. None of the terms or prohibitions contained in this chapter shall apply to or be enforced against: ... 5.Excavation, construction, demolition, repair, paving or alteration of buildings or streets. 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 9:...
Barking Dogs
Knox County treats habitual barking, whining or other objectionable animal noise as a nuisance violation under Code § 6-33. "Habitual" means continuous noise for ten minutes or intermittent noise for a half hour or more, and the animal control division cites owners as a civil infraction.
Barking Dog Nuisance Law in Knox County TN
Some RestrictionsKnox County Code § 6-33(a)(1), (a)(2), (b)
The owner having control or custody of any animal or livestock which:(1)Habitually barks, whines, meows, squawks or causes other objectionable noise resulting in a nuisance to a neighboring resident, shall be deemed to be committing an act in violation of this article. For purposes of this article, "habitually" shall mean continuously for a period of ten minutes, or intermittently for one-half ...
Leaf Blower Rules
Knox County's noise chapter exempts leaf blowers and other domestic power equipment from its noise rules only between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Running that equipment outside that window loses the exemption and can be treated as an unreasonably loud, unnecessary noise violation.
Leaf Blower and Lawn Equipment Hours, Knox County
Some RestrictionsKnox County Code § 10-92 (2018 IPMC, Chapter 12, Section 1205(6))
Section 1204. General Prohibitions. ... it shall be unlawful for any person within the county to make, produce, cause, suffer, continue or allow to be produced or continued by human voice, machine, animal, or device, or any combination of same, any unreasonably loud, unusual or unnecessary noise which disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood... Section 1205. Exceptions. None of the term...
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound
A Knox County rural retreat, the zoning ordinance's use-on-review category for agritourism and event venues, must disclose its planned sound amplification when applying and keep noise at the property line under forty decibels between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., fifty decibels the rest of the day, and move any amplified late events indoors above certain sizes.
Amplified Sound Limits for Rural Retreats in Knox County
Some RestrictionsKnox County Zoning Ordinance §§ 4.104.01(A)(6), 4.104.02(I), 4.104.03(B)(4)
4.104.01. Minimum required information. ... A.The description of proposed activities shall include the following:1.The number of employees;2.The hours of operation;...6.Sound amplification to be used;... I.Noise generated by the use, as measured at any property line, shall not exceed forty (40) decibels (dB) between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., and shall not exceed fifty (50) decibels ...
Decibel Limits
Knox County's zoning ordinance sets a sliding decibel ceiling by sound frequency for any use or activity measured at a lot's boundary, ranging from 77 decibels at low frequencies down to 39 decibels at the highest, as one of the article 4 performance standards that apply across zoning districts.
Zoning Noise Performance Standards in Knox County
Some RestrictionsKnox County Zoning Ordinance § 4.10.01(A)-(B)
4.10.01. Noise. A.Principle. No person shall operate, cause to operate or allow to operate any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level at any point on or beyond the boundary of any lot or tract which exceeds the limits set forth in these standards. ... B.Standards. The sound pressure level resulting from any use or activity shall not exceed the maximum permitted decibel leve...
Vehicle Noise
Every motor vehicle driven in unincorporated Knox County must carry a working muffler running at all times to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and muffler cutouts or similar bypass devices are banned outright. Violating this equipment standard is a misdemeanor enforced by the sheriff's office under the county's general traffic penalty.
Vehicle Muffler and Noise Law in Knox County
Some RestrictionsKnox County Code §§ 62-263, 62-256
Sec. 62-263. - Noise prevention. Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise; and no person shall use a muffler cutout or similar device upon a vehicle on a roadway within the county. ... Sec. 62-256. - Scope and effect; nonmoving violations. (a)It is a misdemeanor for any person to drive...
Noise Ordinances by City in Knox County
1 cities in Knox County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Knox County ordinances
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