Rutherford County, TN Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit (day)
- 60 dBA, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Residential limit (night)
- 55 dBA, 7 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Industrial limit
- 75 dBA, 24 hours
- All other uses
- 65 dBA day / 60 dBA night
- Measurement
- A-weighted meter, ANSI S1.4-1971
- Enforcement
- Director of Building Codes, § 1410
Summary
In unincorporated Rutherford County, Zoning Ordinance Section 1106 caps sound at the property line under a Table of Maximum Permitted Sound Levels keyed to the adjacent land use and time of day. Noise reaching a residential-adjacent lot cannot top 60 dBA between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. or 55 dBA overnight; industrial-adjacent noise is capped at 75 dBA around the clock.
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 Rutherford County Zoning Ordinance, effective January 1, 2013 and amended through December 11, 2025, sets its noise standard in Section 1106, the county's performance-standards chapter for industrial, commercial and community-facility activities in unincorporated territory. ; a property line abutting an industrial use is capped at 75 dBA at all hours; and all other adjacent uses are held to 65 dBA daytime and 60 dBA nighttime. 4-1971 Type I specifications, using the meter's fast response for impact noise (peaks more than 3 decibels above the steady reading) and slow response otherwise.
d exempts only three sources from the table: emergency warning devices, lawn care equipment run in daylight, and construction equipment run in daylight; nighttime noise from any other source, including HVAC compressors, generators and outdoor equipment, must stay under the applicable limit. The standard applies countywide to any permitted use, special exception, or structure once it is built or expanded, per Section 1106 A. Complaints go to the Director of Building Codes, who investigates under Section 1410 A and can pursue the remedies and penalties in Section 1410 B and C.
Violations & Fines
A verified exceedance is a violation of the zoning ordinance under Section 1410 B, punishable as provided by law, with each day the noise continues counted as a separate offense. The Director of Building Codes investigates complaints filed under Section 1410 A and can order remedies under Section 1410 C, including compliance orders against the property owner, tenant, contractor, or anyone who assists in maintaining the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rutherford County have a specific decibel limit for unincorporated areas?
What noise is exempt from the decibel table?
Who enforces the noise limit and what happens if I'm cited?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rutherford County
Compare Rutherford County to another location·View the Tennessee noise ordinances overview
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