Henry County, GA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential day limit
- 75/70/65 dBA (L1/L10/L50)
- Residential night limit
- 65/60/55 dBA
- Commercial day/night
- 80/75/70 / 70/65/60 dBA
- Industrial day/night
- 85/80/75 / 75/70/65 dBA
- Measurement
- Property boundary, min. 30-minute reading
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine or 60 days jail
Summary
Henry County caps outdoor sound at the property line under Code of Ordinances Sec. 3-17-42 and Table 1, with limits keyed to zoning classification and time of day. Residential parcels top out at 75 dBA during the 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daytime window and drop to 65 dBA overnight; commercial and industrial zones carry higher ceilings, enforced by the Code Enforcement Director.
(b)No person shall operate or cause to be operated any source of sound from any location in such a manner as to create a sound level which exceeds the limits set forth in Table 1 for the receiving land use category (zoning classification) as measured at any point along the real property boundary separating the real property from which the sound emanates from the receiving land use category. ... TABLE 1 ... Zoning Classification DAY (0700-2200 hours) NIGHT (2200-0700 hours) L1 L10 L50 L1 L10 L50 Residential 75 70 65 65 60 55 Commercial 80 75 70 70 65 60 Industrial 85 80 75 75 70 65
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 3-17-42(a) makes it unlawful to create any noise violating this article, and subsection (b) bars operating a sound source in a manner that exceeds the limits set in Table 1 for the receiving land use category, measured at the real property boundary. Table 1 sets three measurement tiers: L1 (exceeded no more than 1 percent of the period), L10 (10 percent) and L50 (50 percent), across a minimum continuous 30-minute reading. Residential property is capped at 75/70/65 dBA by day (0700-2200) and 65/60/55 dBA at night (2200-0700); commercial property at 80/75/70 by day and 70/65/60 at night; industrial property at 85/80/75 by day and 75/70/65 at night.
Subsection (c) requires the reading be taken with an ANSI Type 2 or better A-weighted sound level meter. Table 1's residential classifications sweep in the county's RA, R-1, R-2, R-3, RD, RM, RMH and PD zoning districts under the Sec. 3-17-41 definitions, while C-1 through C-3, M-1, M-2 and OI count as commercial and M-1/M-2 double as industrial. Sec. weekends/holidays), authorized emergency vehicles, permitted parades, concerts or construction, FAA-regulated aircraft, and specified fireworks windows. Anyone needing relief beyond these limits can apply to the business license office for a special temporary permit under Sec. 3-17-46, which the board of commissioners may grant for up to 15 days for a $25 fee.
Violations & Fines
The Henry County Code Enforcement Director, designees, and county law enforcement including the Henry County Police Department enforce Table 1's limits under Sec. 3-17-47. Sec. 3-17-48 sets a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment up to 60 days, or both, per O.C.G.A. Sec. 36-1-20(b), with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense; the county may also abate the noise as a public nuisance and assess sound-testing costs against a frivolous complainant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed in a Henry County residential zone at night?
How is the sound level actually measured?
What zones get the loosest daytime limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Henry County
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