Nicholasville, KY Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Section 12-10, Excessive noise prohibited, handles amplified sound in several places.

Subsection (a) bars any person from emitting, beyond the boundaries of his property or from any vehicle, noise including noise from music amplification or other like device that unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of life or any lawful business or activity, in contravention of any rule or regulation adopted by the environmental resources cabinet for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Subsection (b)(6) prohibits, for any commercial purpose, the operation of any loudspeaker, public address system, mobile sound vehicle or similar device amplifying sound on a public right-of-way or public space. No hour window is printed for that commercial rule.

Subsection (b)(7) covers noncommercial use of the same devices. It is prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., prevailing local time, when the sound creates a noise disturbance across a dwelling unit boundary.

Subsection (b)(9) separately prohibits operating or playing any radio, television, phonograph, drum, musical instrument or similar device in a manner that creates a noise disturbance across a dwelling unit boundary, with no hours stated.

Subsection (b)(12) sets the vehicle audio test. A radio, stereo, tape player, record player, compact disc player or similar device in or on a vehicle on the public streets or rights-of-way, or on other public property including parks and public parking lots operated by the City of Nicholasville, cannot create a noise disturbance that is audible to a person of normal hearing sensitivity more than ten feet from the vehicle. Words and phrases need not be discernible for the sound to count as audible, and the sound includes bass reverberation.

Section 12-10 names no enforcing officer. Its history notes are Ord. No. 399-2002, 4-11-02 and Ord. No. 052-2021, 8-23-21.