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Chattanooga, TN Noise from Specific Sources: Delivery Truck Noise (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Chattanooga City Code § 25-68(a)(10)
Standard
'loud and excessive,' no decibel number
Applies
citywide, any hour
Related rule
refuse loaders barred 9pm-7am, § 25-79(a)(8)
Max penalty
$500 per violation, § 25-74

Summary

Chattanooga City Code § 25-68(a)(10) declares loud, excessive noise from loading or unloading a vehicle, or from opening bales, boxes, crates and containers, an unlawful noise citywide. The rule sets no decibel figure or curfew hours; it bans the racket outright whenever it rises to 'loud and excessive,' any time of day.

(10)Loading and unloading; opening bales, etc. The creation of loud and excessive noise in connection with the loading or unloading of any vehicle or the opening bales, boxes, crates and containers.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 40 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

' Unlike the construction-hours rule two subsections earlier, this one carries no clock: it isn't limited to nighttime or to residential districts, and it sets no decibel threshold the way § 25-69's sound-amplification rules do. That makes it a catch-all standard rather than a bright-line number, leaving the loud-versus-ordinary determination to the officer on scene and, on appeal, to city court. within or adjacent to a residential zone, a related but distinct rule from the general loading and unloading ban. Both sections sit under Article III's opening declaration in § 25-66 that 'the creation of any unreasonably loud, disturbing or unnecessary noise in the city' is unlawful, and both draw on the measurement definitions Article III sets out in § 25-67, even though § 25-68(a)(10) itself doesn't require a metered reading to support a citation.

Violations & Fines

Loading-noise violations are enforced under § 25-74: a $50.00 citation fine per violation, plus a discretionary civil penalty of up to $500.00 to cover the city's administrative costs of enforcement, or a conditional civil penalty up to $500.00 waived if the violator avoids another Article III violation for a year. The combined fines and penalties for one violation cannot exceed $500.00.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a decibel limit for delivery truck noise in Chattanooga?
No. Section 25-68(a)(10) bans 'loud and excessive noise' from loading, unloading or opening bales, boxes and crates without naming a decibel figure. It's a ban on unreasonable noise from that activity, judged case by case rather than metered.
Does the loading-noise rule only apply at night?
No. Unlike the construction-hours or refuse-collection rules elsewhere in Article III, § 25-68(a)(10) has no time window. It applies any hour of the day, though enforcement in practice tends to follow complaints, which cluster around early-morning and late-night deliveries.
What's the fine for excessive loading noise?
Enforcement runs through § 25-74: city court can impose a $50.00 citation fine per violation and a civil penalty up to $500.00 for enforcement costs, but the combined total for one violation is capped at $500.00.
Is there a separate rule for garbage truck noise?
Yes. Section 25-79(a)(8) bars operating a mechanical refuse-collection loader between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. within or adjacent to a residential zone, a more specific, hour-based rule distinct from the general loading-noise ban in § 25-68(a)(10).

Sources & Official References

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