Atlanta, GA Noise from Specific Sources: Car Alarm Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Alarm cutoff
- 15 minutes from activation
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 74-132(b)
- Fallback standard
- 300 ft day / 100 ft night audibility
- Penalty basis
- General penalty, § 1-8
Summary
Atlanta exempts car alarms from its noise ordinance only while they run 15 minutes or less. An alarm that keeps sounding past that window loses the exemption and becomes a citable noise violation under the general noise-control article.
Noise from an exterior burglar alarm of any building, or from any automobile alarm, provided such alarm shall terminate its operation within 15 minutes of its activation.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 74-132(b) of Atlanta's noise ordinance excludes an automobile alarm from the article's general noise prohibitions, but the exclusion is conditioned on the alarm terminating its operation within 15 minutes of activation. An alarm that keeps sounding past that window forfeits the exemption and falls back under Sec. 74-131's plainly-audible standards: noise audible 300 feet away during daytime hours (7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m./midnight) or 100 feet away overnight is unlawful. Violations are punished under the general penalty set out in Sec. 1-8, and each additional day of a continuing violation counts as a separate offense under Sec. 74-137.
Violations & Fines
A car alarm sounding longer than 15 minutes loses its exclusion and can be cited as unlawful noise under Sec. 74-131, punishable under the general penalty in Sec. 1-8 (Sec. 74-137), with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Atlanta have a rule for car alarms going off?
What if a car alarm keeps sounding past 15 minutes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlanta
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Car Alarm Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle car alarm limits.