Cherokee County, GA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime exterior limit
- 55 dBA / 60 dBC
- Nighttime exterior limit
- 40 dBA / 50 dBC
- Interior nighttime limit
- 45 dBC
- Measurement point
- Property line or 25 ft from home
- Background overage allowed
- 5 dBA/dBC above ambient
Summary
Special events facilities in unincorporated Cherokee County cannot exceed 55 dBA/60 dBC by day or 40 dBA/50 dBC at night, measured at the residential receiving property line, under the county's Table 1 exterior noise standard.
Exterior noise levels. A special event facility shall not employ or operate any amplified source of sound, instrument, or sound production device of any type that exceeds the limits of Table 1 when measured according to (h) and (i)... TABLE 1. Allowable Exterior Noise Level* Receiving Property: Residential use; Daytime 7:00 AM-11:00 PM: 55 dBA / 60 dBC; Nighttime 11:00 PM-7:00 AM: 40 dBA / 50 dBC. *Leq one-minute
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 39 | Zoning: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 26-43(d) of the noise article caps exterior noise from any amplified sound source, instrument, or sound production device operated by a special events facility, including loudspeakers, bullhorns, amplifiers, PA systems, musical instruments, radios, televisions, and recorded-audio devices. ), measured as a one-minute Leq. Sec. 26-43(f) adds an interior cap of 55 dBC daytime and 45 dBC nighttime, measured inside a sealed residence at the request of the affected homeowner. Under Sec. 26-43(g), if the background sound level already exceeds Table 1, the facility's noise cannot exceed that background level by more than 5 dBA or 5 dBC.
Measurements by county staff are taken at the residential property boundary or 25 feet from the nearest occupied structure, whichever is closer, using a Class 1 or 2 ANSI-compliant sound level meter, following the wind, weather, and calibration protocols listed in Sec. 26-43(i). Facilities in the AG zoning district must complete a county-supervised acoustical study before applying for a special use permit; those in other permitted districts complete it before a certificate of occupancy issues, per Sec. 26-43(c).
Violations & Fines
Exceeding Table 1 or Table 2 levels documented by the county marshal counts as a violation under Sec. 26-43(a); three or more documented Table 1/Table 2 violations during a compliance period force the facility to cease operating until it complies with the full Sec. 26-43(c) acoustical study requirements. General noise-article penalties apply: declared public nuisance, possible revocation of a special use permit or business license under Sec. 26-45, and a magistrate's court citation punishable up to $1,000.00 and 60 days imprisonment under Sec. 1-12.
Frequently Asked Questions
What decibel limit applies to a Cherokee County event venue at night?
Where is noise measured for a special events facility complaint?
Do these decibel limits apply to all noise sources, or just event venues?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cherokee County
Compare Cherokee County to another location·View the Georgia noise ordinances overview
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