Bulloch County, GA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Bulloch County, GA, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Noise Ordinance, Ch. 10 Art. VI (§§ 10-135–10-140)
- General audibility standard
- Audible 100+ feet, § 10-136
- Yelling/shouting curfew
- 11 p.m.–7 a.m., § 10-137(3)
- Radio/device curfew
- 8 p.m.–7 a.m., § 10-137(2)
- Lawn equipment exemption
- 6 a.m.–10 p.m., § 10-138(8)
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine, 60 days jail, § 1-11
- Special permit lead time
- 21 days, § 10-139
Summary
Bulloch County's noise ordinance bars any loud, unnecessary or unusual sound audible 100 feet or more away that disturbs a reasonable person (§ 10-136), then layers on device-specific nighttime curfews, including a hard 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. window for yelling, shouting or singing on public streets under § 10-137(3).
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual sound or noise which either disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of a reasonable person, and which is audible to such person from a distance of 100 feet or more from the point of origin of the sound or noise. ... Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, or singing ... on the public streets, particularly any day between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of a reasonable person in any office, dwelling, hotel, or other type of residence or of any reasonable person in the vicinity.
Full Breakdown
Article VI of Chapter 10, the county's Noise Ordinance, applies only in the unincorporated areas of Bulloch County (§ 10-135(b)) and declares itself necessary for public health and welfare while disclaiming any intent to restrict lawful free speech. The general rule in Section 10-136 makes it unlawful to create any loud, unnecessary or unusual sound that disturbs, injures or endangers a reasonable person's comfort, repose, health, peace or safety, measured by audibility from 100 feet away. presumption (subsection 11). , emergency vehicles, religious worship sounds, and permitted temporary events.
Anyone needing to exceed these limits, such as for nighttime construction, can apply for a special permit at least 21 days ahead under Section 10-139, capped at 45 consecutive days for construction activity.
Violations & Fines
Section 10-140 makes any violation of the Noise Ordinance punishable under the Code's general penalty, Section 1-11: a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to 60 days in the county jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the quiet hours in unincorporated Bulloch County?
Can I run a lawnmower early in the morning in Bulloch County?
What's the fine for violating Bulloch County's noise ordinance?
Can I get a permit to make noise late at night for an event?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bulloch County
How Bulloch County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Bulloch County to another location·View the Georgia noise ordinances overview
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