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.
Johns Creek prohibits amplified sound from an entertainment venue that is plainly audible at a residential property. The 'plainly audible' standard covers understandable speech, bass, or musical rhythms heard without a device, and a venue can be cited even when it stays under the meter limits.
Amplified music is the core target of Johns Creek's 2016 noise ordinance, adopted after disputes over a local concert venue. Section 30-20(a)(1) of the Code of Ordinances states that no property owner, tenant, or their agent or employee '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,' expressly including loudspeakers, bullhorns, amplifiers, public address systems, musical instruments, radios, and devices that play recorded music. 'Plainly audible' is defined in Section 30-18 as sound whose information content can be distinguished by a listener with normal hearing, such as understandable speech, whether a voice is normal or raised, repetitive bass, or musical rhythms, without a listening device. As an alternative, Section 30-20(a)(2) allows an officer to take a sound-pressure reading at the receiving home; limits are 55 dBA / 60 dBC daytime and 40 dBA / 50 dBC nighttime. Crucially, Section 30-20(a)(2) states the meter limits never prevent a violation if the sound is plainly audible. Permitted parades, athletic events, and outdoor special events are exempt under Section 30-20(a)(5).
A venue that fails to obey a lawful officer order to reduce noise so it is no longer plainly audible at a residence may be cited under Section 34-59 (per Section 30-22(e)). Repeat nuisance violations carry the Section 30-22(d) progressive minimum fines of $250 / $500 / $1,000 in a 12-month period, and Section 1-7 allows a fine up to $1,000 and/or six months imprisonment.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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