Johns Creek, GA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime limit
- 55 dBA / 60 dBC
- Nighttime limit
- 40 dBA / 50 dBC
- Daytime hours
- 7:01 a.m.–11 p.m.
- Nighttime hours
- 11:01 p.m.–7 a.m.
- Measured at
- Receiving residential property
Summary
Johns Creek caps amplified sound from entertainment venues at 55 dBA/60 dBC by day and 40 dBA/50 dBC at night when measured at a residential receiving property, per the numeric Table 1 in Code § 30-20(a)(2).
TABLE 1.
Receiving Property Category Daytime: 7:01 AM—11 PM Nighttime: 11:01 PM—7 AM dBA dBC dBA dBC Residential 55 60 40 50
Provided however, that under no circumstance shall the existence of this SPL standard prevent a violation being found if the sound is plainly audible as set forth in section 30-20(a)(1).
(3)In cases where the receiving residential property background sound levels dBA or dBC exceed the levels in table 1, in no instance shall the sound pressure level from any entertainment venue amplified sound source exceed the receiving residential property background sound level, except as prescribed herein.(4)Insofar as practicable, sound shall be measured while the amplified sound of interest under investigation is operating at normal, routine conditions and, as necessary, at other conditions, including but not limited to, design, maximum, and fluctuating rates. When measurements cannot be conducted at or within the residential property boundary, they shall be made as close thereto as is reasonable. Sound pressure levels shall be measured using the A- and C-weighting networks on a sound level meter meeting, at a minimum, the tolerance characteristics for a Type 2 device as established within ANSI S1.4. All measurements shall be conducted in accordance with the following procedures:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Johns Creek Code of Ordinances § 30-20(a)(2), applicable citywide in Fulton County, Georgia, sets absolute sound pressure level limits for entertainment-venue amplified sound reaching a residential receiving property: 55 dBA/60 dBC daytime (7:01 a.m.-11 p.m.) and 40 dBA/50 dBC nighttime (11:01 p.m.-7 a.m.). If the property's background sound already exceeds those numbers, § 30-20(a)(3) caps the venue's sound at that background level instead. Readings require a Type 2 ANSI-compliant meter, taken for at least one minute in winds under 15 mph, at the officer's discretion as an alternative to the 'plainly audible' test.
Violations & Fines
A reading over the Table 1 limit is a separate, independent basis for citation: punishable under § 1-7's general penalty of up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail per day, on top of the 'plainly audible' standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What decibel level triggers a violation at night in Johns Creek?
What if the neighborhood is already loud from other sources?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Johns Creek
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle decibel limits.