Sandy Springs, GA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 38-87
- Nighttime limit
- 55 dB(A), 11:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.
- Daytime limit
- 65 dB(A), 7:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
- Measured
- At or outside the property boundary
- Adopted
- August 7, 2018 (Ord. No. 2018-08-25)
Summary
Sandy Springs caps residential noise at 55 dB(A) overnight (11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) and 65 dB(A) during the day (7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.), or ten dB(A) above ambient levels if that is higher, measured at the property boundary under City Code § 38-87. Seven listed activities, including school sports and religious gatherings, are exempt from the daytime cap.
Nighttime. No person shall permit, operate or cause any source of sound to create a sound level in a residential zone or within any residential building during the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in excess of 55 dB(A) or ten dB(A) above ambient levels (whichever is more), when measured at or outside the property boundary. Daytime. No person shall permit, operate or cause any source of sound to create a sound level in a residential zone or within any residential building during the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. in excess of 65 dB(A) or ten dB(A) above ambient levels (whichever is more), when measured at or outside the property boundary.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 24 | Development Code: Supplement 2 | Technical Manuals: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Adopted August 7, 2018 by Ord. No. 2018-08-25, § 38-87 sets the residential noise ceiling that the rest of division 2 builds around. , measured at or outside the property boundary. m. Subsection (c) lets the police department measure sound inside a multifamily building's common areas or other units, at a point at least four feet from the nearest wall, ceiling, or floor, with doors closed and windows in their seasonal position, when the owner or tenant requests it. Subsection (d) exempts seven categories from the daytime cap only, including school band practices and athletic contests, sanctioned activities in city parks, ordinary construction and landscaping work (subject to further limits in § 38-93), church bells, and activities protected by the First Amendment or already preempted by state or federal law.
Separate numeric tables apply outside residential zones: § 38-89 caps commercial/mixed-use districts at 80 dB(A) by day and 60 dB(A) at night, and § 38-88 sets vehicle pass-by limits up to 90 dB(A) for heavy trucks. Enforcement runs through the Sandy Springs Police Department using calibrated sound level meters under § 38-91, and applicants may seek a variance under § 38-92 by applying at least 48 hours before a proposed event.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the residential decibel caps in § 38-87 is enforceable using certified sound level meter readings under § 38-91 and is punished under the Code's general penalty in § 1-10(c): up to a $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or 30 days of confinement at labor, with each continuing violation a separate daily offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the noise limit in Sandy Springs residential zones at night?
Is the home noise limit different during the day in Sandy Springs?
Are school sports exempt from the Sandy Springs noise limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sandy Springs
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle decibel limits.