Johns Creek, GA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Johns Creek, GA, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- Standard
- 'Plainly audible' at residence
- Applies to
- Entertainment venues, indoor/outdoor
- Alternate test
- SPL meter reading, Table 1
- Max fine
- $1,000 per day
- Repeat fine
- Up to $1,000, 4th offense
Summary
Johns Creek bans amplified sound from any entertainment venue, indoor or outdoor, that is 'plainly audible' at a nearby residential property, covering loudspeakers, PA systems, musical instruments, radios, and recorded-music devices under Code § 30-20(a)(1).
No property owner, tenant or an agent or employee of a property owner shall employ any device or instrument at an entertainment venue that creates, or amplifies sound to generate any sound for the purpose of communication or entertainment that is plainly audible at a receiving residential property, including but not limited to: any loudspeaker; bullhorn, amplifier; public address system; musical instrument; radio; or device that plays recorded music.(2)At the sole discretion of a law enforcement officer or code enforcement officer and as an alternative to making a determination of whether a sound is plainly audible, the following shall apply: A sound pressure level (SPL) reading may be taken at the receiving residential property according to the sound measurement procedures contained herein. In no instance shall the SPL from any entertainment venue music or amplified sound source exceed the following absolute limits except as prescribed herein: TABLE 1.
Receiving Property Category Daytime: 7:01 AM—11 PM Nighttime: 11:01 PM—7 AM dBA dBC dBA dBC Residential 55 60 40 50
Provided however, that under no circumstance shall the existence of this SPL standard prevent a violation being found if the sound is plainly audible as set forth in section 30-20(a)(1).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Johns Creek Code of Ordinances § 30-20(a)(1), which applies citywide in Fulton County, Georgia, makes it unlawful for a property owner, tenant, agent, or employee to run any device at an entertainment venue, defined in § 30-18 to include both indoor and outdoor establishments hosting music, karaoke, comedy, or dancing, that amplifies sound plainly audible at a receiving residential property. Officers may instead measure sound pressure levels against the numeric limits in Table 1, but exceeding the plainly-audible test alone is enough for a violation regardless of the decibel reading.
Violations & Fines
Violators face citation and the § 1-7 general penalty: up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail; repeat offenders face escalating fines up to $1,000 for a fourth violation within 12 months under § 30-22(d).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the sound have to be measured in decibels to count as a violation?
Are country clubs and golf courses covered?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Johns Creek
Compare Johns Creek to another location·View the Georgia noise ordinances overview
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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.