Madison does not use decibel meters. Its noise standard is a plain-audibility test: sound must not be audible more than 25 feet beyond the property line where it originates. Reasonableness and disturbance govern the rest.
Unlike some jurisdictions, Madison's noise ordinance (Ch. 14, Art. XI) sets no numerical dB(A) limits. Specific violations in Sec. 14-173, plus commercial-loading Sec. 14-174, use an audibility distance of twenty-five (25) feet from the property line. The catch-all Sec. 14-172 prohibits any loud, excessive, unusual or unnecessary noise that unreasonably interferes with neighbors. Note: unincorporated Madison County (a separate government) has a decibel-based ordinance, but that does not apply inside City limits.
Violations of any provision draw a minimum $100 fine (first), $250 (second), and $500 plus 24 hours jail (third), with each day a separate offense.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Madison, AL
Madison has no ordinance prohibiting backyard composting, and no permit is required. Compost simply cannot become a nuisance: property-maintenance rules requ...
Madison, AL
Madison's Zoning Ordinance prohibits synthetic or artificial material imitating turf, trees, shrubs, or other plants from being used in lieu of the plant mat...
Madison, AL
Madison does not require homeowners to use native plants. For development sites, the Zoning Ordinance requires living trees, shrubs, or ground cover approved...
Madison, AL
Madison has no ordinance restricting residential rain barrels or rainwater harvesting. The Zoning Ordinance actually encourages low-impact stormwater practic...
Madison, AL
The City of Madison does not impose a mandatory outdoor-watering ordinance. Water service is provided by Madison Utilities, whose conservation status is norm...
Madison, AL
Overgrown grass or weeds that harbor pests, create a fire hazard, spread seeds, or are unsightly may be declared a public nuisance in Madison. Separately, al...
See how Madison's decibel limits rules stack up against other locations.
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