Smyrna, GA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Section 46-1(c)(1) bars any person from causing, suffering, allowing or permitting the operation of any sound source in a way that creates a sound level above the continuous and impulsive limits in Table 1. Sound is measured at 40 feet or the real property line of the source premises to the real property line of the receptor premises, whichever is the greatest distance. A sound above the Table 1 limit makes the source a noise disturbance. The section applies inside the city limits and outside them within all territory to which the city's jurisdiction extends.

Table 1 is a grid. The rows are the source premises (residential, commercial, industrial and mixed use district) and the columns are the receptor premises. Residential, commercial and industrial receptors each have a daytime column (7:00 am to 11:00 pm) and a nighttime column (11:01 pm to 6:59 am). The mixed use district receptor has three: 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, 11:01 pm to 4:00 am, and 4:01 am to 6:59 am. Read in the file's column order, a residential source is 65 day and 60 night at residential, commercial and industrial receptors and 65, 60, 60 at a mixed use receptor. A commercial source is 65 and 60 at a residential receptor and 70 and 65 at commercial and industrial receptors. An industrial source is 70 and 65 at a residential receptor and 80 and 75 at an industrial receptor. A mixed use source is 70 and 65 at a residential receptor and 80 and 75 at an industrial receptor. Table 1 prints the numbers without a unit symbol; the section separately defines decibel (dB) and dBA.

The definitions matter in a dispute. Continuous sound has a constant or regular duration exceeding two minutes. Impulsive sound lasts less than one minute with an abrupt onset and rapid decay and occurs three times in 30 minutes. A noise disturbance is any sound that endangers the safety or health of any person, disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, or endangers personal or real property. A sound level meter must conform to type 1 or type 2 standards under ANSI Standard S1.4-1983 or the latest version.

Section 46-1(c)(2) exempts emergency signaling devices, trains, airplanes, church bells and chimes during religious observance, landscape and yard equipment within set hours, construction within set hours, municipally sponsored events, and legal consumer fireworks on the days in O.C.G.A. § 25-10-2(b)(3)(B)(ii) and (iii).