Murfreesboro, TN Noise from Specific Sources: Generator Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- No generator-specific rule
- general § 21-106(B) applies
- Residential nighttime cap
- 43–48 dBA
- Emergency-work exemption
- Code § 21-109(A)(2)
- Measured at
- neighboring property line
Summary
Murfreesboro has no ordinance written specifically for generators: a running generator is a 'sound source' subject to the citywide exterior dBA limits in § 21-106(B), except when it's genuinely being used for emergency work.
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... Exempted:...(2) Any emission of sound caused by the performance of emergency work, or by the ordinary and accepted use of emergency apparatus and equipment;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 18 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Murfreesboro's noise code doesn't call out generators by name. Instead, § 21-106(B)(1)(a) treats a generator like any other fixed sound source: it can't push a steady or quasi-steady sound past the Table 2 limit for the zone where the neighboring property sits, as low as 43 dBA overnight in a residential zone. The one carve-out is § 21-109(A)(2), which exempts sound from 'the ordinary and accepted use of emergency apparatus and equipment' performing genuine emergency work, not a homeowner simply running a portable unit during a power outage.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the applicable Table 2 limit is enforceable under Code § 21-112 and punished per City Code § 1-8, with each continuing half hour charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Murfreesboro ordinance specifically about generator noise?
Is my portable generator exempt during a power outage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murfreesboro
Compare Murfreesboro to another location·View the Tennessee noise from specific sources overview
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