10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
In Murfreesboro and Rutherford County's cities, amplified sound must not be plainly audible across a neighbor's property line between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM, and residential zones drop to a 48 dBA nighttime limit. Unincorporated county land has no dedicated decibel curfew.
Murfreesboro City Code sec. 21-108(A)(1)
No person may use, play or permit the use or playing of any musical instrument, drum, television, or other sound amplification device: (a) Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner as to be plainly audible across a real property boundary of the nearest occupied dwelling or in a noise-sensitive zone.
Murfreesboro caps construction noise at 80 dBA at a residential property line, allowed only 7 AM-8 PM weekdays (6 AM in June-August) and 8 AM-8 PM weekends and holidays. Rutherford County sets no construction-hour rule for unincorporated land.
Murfreesboro City Code sec. 21-106(E)(1)
No person shall engage in any construction work on private property such that the sound therefrom exceeds an equivalent A-weighted sound level (LeqA) of: (a) 80 dBA, as measured at or within a residential real property boundary or within a noise-sensitive zone.
In Murfreesboro it is a noise violation if an animal barks, howls or whines continuously for more than 10 minutes, or intermittently for more than 20 minutes, when plainly audible 100 feet or more away. Kenneled livestock is exempt.
Murfreesboro City Code sec. 21-108(C)(1)
Any person who owns, possess, or harbors any animal shall violate this Article if such animal barks, howls, whines, meows, squawks, or makes any other like sound continuously for more than ten minutes or intermittently for more than 20 minutes, where such sound is plainly audible from a distance of 100 feet or more from the animal.
Murfreesboro allows gas leaf blowers and power tools only 7 AM-8 PM, capped at 75 dBA (engines 5 HP or less) or 80 dBA (over 5 HP) at a neighbor's property line. Commercial landscaping is banned in residential areas 8 PM-7 AM.
Murfreesboro City Code sec. 21-106(F)(3)
No person engaged in any commercial tree maintenance, landscaping, lawn care, or home improvement service may utilize any power tool or equipment in a residential zone or noise-sensitive zone during such period [8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.].
Murfreesboro bars any instrument, drum, TV or amplification device that is plainly audible 50 feet away on a public right-of-way or public property, or audible across a neighbor's line between 10 PM and 7 AM. Rutherford County has no dedicated amplification rule.
Murfreesboro City Code sec. 21-108(A)(1)(b)
No person may use, play or permit the use or playing of any musical instrument, drum, television, or other sound amplification device: ... (b) In such a manner so as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet on a public right-of-way or on public property.
Aircraft noise is exempt from Murfreesboro's noise ordinance and is regulated by the FAA, not by the county or its cities. Local governments cannot set flight-path or overflight noise limits; complaints go to the FAA or the airport.
Murfreesboro City Code sec. 21-109(A)(5)
Sounds caused by sources regulated as to sound production by federal law, including, but not limited to, any aircraft operated in conformity with, or pursuant to federal law, Federal Aviation Administration regulations, and the instructions of an air traffic controller.
Murfreesboro caps sound from industrial-zone property at 70 dBA around the clock at the receiving boundary. A nonconforming use must meet the most restrictive zone's limit, and homes predating a source get extra protection. County zoning governs unincorporated industry.
Murfreesboro City Code sec. 21-106(B)(3)
The maximum permissible sound level that may be emitted from any lot containing a nonconforming use shall be the same as that permitted for the most restrictive zone in which the use would be conforming.
Murfreesboro's Table 2 caps exterior sound at 55 dBA daytime / 48 dBA nighttime in residential zones, 65 / 58 dBA commercial, and 70 dBA around the clock in industrial zones, measured at the receiving property line. Rutherford County sets no county-wide dB cap.
Murfreesboro City Code sec. 21-106(B)(1)
No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any sound source within the City in such a manner as to create: (a) A steady or quasi-steady sound whose sound level exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land category in Table 2 when measured at or within the real property boundary of the receiving land.
Murfreesboro caps amplified sound from a public entertainment venue at 65 dBC (7 AM-10 PM) and 50 dBC (10 PM-7 AM) at the nearest home's boundary. Outdoor commercial loudspeakers face plainly-audible limits; special events need a permit.
Murfreesboro City Code sec. 21-106(H)(1)
No person may operate or allow the operation of any sound amplification device in a public entertainment venue so as to create: (1) An equivalent C-weighted sound level (LeqC) in excess of 65 dBC between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., or 50 dBC between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Murfreesboro treats a car sound system audible 50 feet from the vehicle as prima facie evidence of a violation, and requires every vehicle to run a working muffler with no cutout or bypass. Statewide, T.C.A. governs modified exhaust.
Murfreesboro City Code sec. 21-106(G)(2)
The operation of any such device in such a manner as to be audible to the human ear at a distance of 50 feet from the vehicle in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
1 cities in Rutherford County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Rutherford County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
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