Williamson County, TN Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 16.02(A)-(B)(1)
- Residential daytime limit
- 60 dBA (7 a.m.-10 p.m.)
- Residential nighttime limit
- 55 dBA non-rural / 50 dBA rural
- Commercial/public limit
- 65 dBA day and night
- Measurement method
- A-weighted 10-min Leq, slow meter response
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county, covered use types
Summary
Williamson County sets numeric dBA ceilings on ordinary ambient noise, separate from amplified sound equipment, for uses like industrial operations, animal care facilities, and eating and drinking establishments. Section 16.02(B)(1) scales the limit by receiving property type and time of day, with rural residential parcels held to a stricter overnight standard.
(1) Sounds produced by, generated on or associated with the uses outlined in Section 16.02(A) above, other than sounds produced by Sound Production Devices, shall not exceed the A-weighted 10-minute Leq (slow response) limits listed in Table 16:02-1: Maximum Noise Standards-Non-Sound Production when measured outdoors anywhere within the Receiving Property boundaries. Table 16.02-1: Maximum Noise Standards- Non-Sound Production Devices. Receiving Use Type: A-weighted 10-minute Leq (dBA), slow meter response. Day (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) Night (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.). Residential 60 55 non-rural [1] 50 rural [2]. Agricultural [3] 60 50. Public and Institutional 65 65. Commercial 65 65. [1] Non-rural includes any residential parcel less than 5 acres. [2] Rural includes any residential parcel 5 acres or greater, this limit applies only at the house or other buildings used for living quarters, and any accessory structures. [3] For Agricultural land, this limit applies only at the house or other buildings used for living quarters, and any accessory structures.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
02(A): industrial uses, agricultural support and services, animal care facilities, conference or training centers, residential businesses, eating and drinking establishments, extensive retail sales and services, outdoor amusement, entertainment establishments, vehicle and machinery sales and service, country clubs, and extensive or limited-impact special events, whenever the sound is not produced by a dedicated Sound Production Device. 02-1's limits. ) the ceiling drops to 55 dBA for non-rural residential parcels under five acres and 50 dBA for rural residential parcels of five acres or more, applied only at the dwelling, other living-quarters buildings, and accessory structures.
Agricultural land carries the same 60 dBA daytime limit but a 50 dBA nighttime limit, also measured only at occupied buildings. Public, institutional, and commercial receiving property are both held to a flat 65 dBA around the clock. 02(F) governs how background noise is factored into any measurement, including a rule that a source cannot be cited if the background noise is within 4 dB of the total measured level. These limits apply to unincorporated Williamson County; the Codes Compliance Director enforces them under Article 22.
Violations & Fines
Noise exceeding the Table 16.02-1 limits at the receiving property line is a violation of Section 16.02 and the Zoning Ordinance under Section 22.03. Section 22.07 treats it as a misdemeanor carrying a $10 to $50 fine per offense, with each day the exceedance continues counted as a separate offense, and the Codes Compliance Director may also pursue civil enforcement to compel compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the general noise limit at a residential property line in Williamson County?
Does the noise limit change for farms or commercial property?
How does the county treat background noise when measuring a complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Williamson County
Compare Williamson County to another location·View the Tennessee noise ordinances overview
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