Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Roswell, GA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Construction hours in Roswell, GA, sometimes called construction noise rules or contractor work-hour ordinances, set when contractors can run power tools, hammers, and heavy equipment.

Key Facts

Construction noise decibel exemption
7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m., every day
Separate construction-activity hours (§ 5.1.13)
7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Mon-Sat
After-hours construction permit
Written application to chief building inspector
Outside exempt hours
70 dBA day / 60 dBA night residential limit applies
First offense fine
$100 to $1,000 civil penalty
Repeat offense
Up to $2,000 fine and/or 6 months jail
Hardship relief
30-day permit from Zoning Administrator

Summary

Roswell, Georgia's noise ordinance exempts private and commercial construction noise from the city's decibel limits only between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Outside that window construction sound must meet the same Table 1 limits (70 dBA residential daytime, 60 dBA at night) as any other noise source, enforced under Code of Ordinances § 8.8.3(s).

(2)Sound level limitations.a.No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit a domestic animal or the operation of any sound source in such a manner as to create a sound level that exceeds the sound level limits set forth in Table 1 when measured at or within the real property line of the receiving property. Such a sound source would constitute a noise disturbance. ... (3)Exemptions...b.The following are exempt from the sound level limits:...12.Noise that results from construction both private and commercial between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 17 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 5).

Full Breakdown

; 70/65 for office/commercial by time of day; 70 dBA at all times for industrial). " is exempt from Table 1. m. Monday through Saturday, unless the chief building inspector has issued a written after-hours permit. 3(s) noise restrictions. 3(s)(7) to the Zoning Administrator for a special administrative permit granting temporary relief, valid up to 30 days, with appeals of a denial going to the city council; no such permit may be issued for amplified sound.

Violations & Fines

Code Enforcement Officers or police measure sound with a calibrated meter and may issue a municipal court citation. Under § 8.8.3(s)(8), a first offense carries a civil penalty of $100 to $1,000, a second offense $500 to $1,000, and any further offense becomes a criminal fine up to $2,000 and/or up to six months incarceration; the judge may also order immediate abatement, with noncompliance treated as contempt of court.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can construction noise legally happen in Roswell, GA?
Construction noise, private or commercial, is exempt from the city's decibel limits between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. every day under Code of Ordinances § 8.8.3(s)(3)(b)(12). A separate rule, § 5.1.13, further restricts the construction activity itself to 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, unless the chief building inspector issues an after-hours permit.
Does construction noise still have to meet Roswell's decibel limits?
Not between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., when it is fully exempt from Table 1's sound level caps. Outside that window, construction sound must comply with the same limits as any other source: 70 dBA daytime and 60 dBA nighttime at a residential property line.
Can a homeowner work on their own house after normal construction hours?
Section 5.1.13's after-hours permit requirement does not apply to a person doing construction at their own residence, but that work is still subject to the noise restrictions in § 8.8.3(s), so it cannot exceed the applicable decibel limits outside the 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. exemption window.
What happens if a contractor violates Roswell's construction noise rules?
Code Enforcement or police can issue a municipal court citation. A first offense carries a $100 to $1,000 civil penalty, a second offense $500 to $1,000, and any additional offense becomes a criminal fine of up to $2,000 and/or up to six months in jail, plus a possible court order to immediately abate the noise.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Roswell

All Roswell rules

How Roswell compares: Cities with the Strictest Construction Hours·Compare Roswell to another location·View the Georgia noise ordinances overview

Get notified when Construction Hours in Roswell, GA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Construction Hours in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Fulton County handle construction hours.

Sandy Springs, GA
Some Restrictions
Atlanta, GA
Some Restrictions