Sumner County, TN Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 60 dBA day / 55 dBA night
- Industrial limit
- 75 dBA day and night
- All other uses
- 65 dBA day / 60 dBA night
- Measured at
- zone lot / property line
- Enforced by
- Director of Building & Codes
- Penalty
- up to $50 per day, misdemeanor
- Applies in
- unincorporated Sumner County only
Summary
Sumner County's Zoning Resolution sets hourly decibel caps for noise crossing a property line in the unincorporated county: 60 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime next to residential land, 65/60 dBA for other uses, and a flat 75 dBA around industrial property. Sec. 1107(B)(2)(c) applies the limit at the zone lot line using a calibrated A-weighted sound level meter.
The maximum permitted sound pressure levels in decibels across zone lot lines and district boundaries shall be in accordance with the following table. This table shall be used to determine the maximum noise level, measured in A-weighted decibels, which shall be permitted at the property line of the closest use in each of the following categories:
TABLE OF MAXIMUM PERMITTED SOUND LEVELS Adjacent Land Use Sound Level Limit (dBA) 7 AM to 7 PM 7 PM to 7 AM Residential 60 55 Industrial 75 75 All Other Uses 65 60
Full Breakdown
The county measures compliance with a Type I (or better) sound level meter meeting ANSI Publication S1.4-1971 specifications, reading A-weighted decibels. Sec. 1107(B)(2)(b) directs inspectors to use the meter's fast response setting for impact noise (a peak more than 3 decibels above the steady reading) and the slow response setting for all other noise. The Table of Maximum Permitted Sound Levels at Sec. 1107(B)(2)(c) is keyed to the land use adjoining the noise source and to the time of day: a residential-adjacent property line may not exceed 60 dBA between 7 AM and 7 PM or 55 dBA between 7 PM and 7 AM; an industrial-adjacent line is capped at 75 dBA around the clock; every other adjacent use is limited to 65 dBA by day and 60 dBA at night.
Sec. 1107(B)(2)(d) carves out three exemptions from the table: emergency warning devices, lawn care equipment operated during daylight hours, and construction equipment used during daylight hours, none of which count toward the dBA cap.
Because this is the county Zoning Resolution, the table binds only the unincorporated parts of Sumner County; Gallatin, Hendersonville, Portland and White House enforce their own municipal noise rules inside city limits. The Director of Building & Codes administers and enforces the Resolution under Sec. 1413, investigating complaints that describe an active, ongoing violation no more than 30 days old and filed in the Director's office. The Zoning Resolution was last revised effective December 8, 2025.
Violations & Fines
A confirmed noise violation is a misdemeanor under Sec. 1413(D), carrying a fine of up to $50 per offense, with each day the excess noise continues charged as a separate offense so fines can stack daily. Sec. 1413(E) also lets the county pursue civil remedies, including injunctive relief, in addition to criminal prosecution; paying the fine alone does not bring the property into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed at night near a home in unincorporated Sumner County?
Are lawn mowers or construction equipment exempt from the decibel table?
Who enforces the noise limits and what happens if I violate them?
Does this decibel table apply inside Gallatin or Hendersonville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sumner County
Compare Sumner County to another location·View the Tennessee noise ordinances overview
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