Brookhaven, GA Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)

Sec. 16-152 in Article VII (Noise) of the Brookhaven Code reaches bass in two ways. Subsection (b)(1) makes it unlawful to play, use or operate any radio receiving device, television, stereo, musical instrument, phonograph, amplifier or other machine that produces or amplifies sound so that the sound is plainly audible and heard, or causes vibrations to property or person, at or more than the specified distances from the building, structure or motor vehicle on private property. Vibration is written into the rule itself, so a subwoofer felt through a neighbor's walls is covered even when no melody carries. If the property line of the source sits farther out than the specified distances, the sound shall not be plainly audible beyond that property line.

Subsection (d) sets a hard C-weighted number for large venues. A place of public entertainment with a capacity of 5,000 or more persons cannot exceed an average of 95 dBC in any ten-minute period from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, or from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. for events commencing on Friday or Saturday. At every other time the limit is 55 dBC. The reading is taken along a straight line from the center of the sound board through the center rear of the facility, 500 feet out or to the property line, whichever is less, and the 500 feet shrinks by one foot for each foot the sound board sits more than 100 feet from center stage. Sec. 16-151 defines dBC as the C-weighted unit of sound pressure level.

Apartments carry their own numbers. Subsection (c) bars any noise in a multi-family dwelling above 75 dBA in the daytime and 55 dBA at night, measured from the closest neighbor's dwelling. Under Sec. 16-155, police officers trained on a sound level meter take the readings at or within the property line of the impacted site, on the A- or C-weighted scale as applicable. Sec. 16-153 exempts events running inside an approved special administrative permit, and municipally sponsored or approved celebrations are exempt from subsections 16-152(a) and (b). Sec. 16-156 lets the chief of police grant a special variance where compliance would be an unreasonable hardship.