Franklin, TN Noise Ordinances: Outdoor Music (2026)

Franklin's outdoor music framework is one of the most structured for a city its size in middle Tennessee, reflecting the dense overlap between the downtown historic district (Main Street, the Public Square, the Civil War-era core), tourist destinations (Carnton Plantation / Carnton Battlefield / Lotz House), and adjacent residential blocks. The governing ordinance is Title 16 (Streets, Sidewalks, and Other Public Property), Chapter 5 'Special Events, Public Gatherings and Expression Events, Tents, Test Closures' of the Franklin Municipal Code. Key provisions: (a) A Special Event Permit is required for any event held on City property or in the public right-of-way - applicants appear before the Special Events Committee (comprised of a representative from every City Department), which can impose conditions reasonably calculated to reduce dangers including changes in time, duration, numbers of participants, or noise levels. (b) A Public Gathering and Expression Event Permit is required when an event involves amplification, when more than 20 individuals attend, or when the event recurs more than once per month. (c) Amplification is allowed only between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. daily and (without a permit) cannot be heard 50 feet from the amplification device. (d) Events themselves may occur between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (e) NO permits are granted in the downtown historic district on weekend evenings/early mornings - Friday 5:00 p.m. through Saturday 7:00 a.m. and Saturday 5:00 p.m. through Sunday 7:00 a.m. Major recurring permitted events include the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County's Main Street Festival (typically last weekend of April on Main Street), Pumpkinfest, Dickens of a Christmas, July 4 celebrations, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm, and Franklin Pride. The Special Events Committee process is administered by the Public Outreach Specialist at 615-550-6606 or specialevents@franklintn.gov; applications for City-property events go through Franklin Parks for venue reservation in parallel.