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Chatham County, GA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Quiet hours in Chatham 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

Nighttime curfew window
10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Residential nighttime limit
55 dBA
Residential daytime limit
60 dBA, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
Power tool exemption ends
10:00 p.m. nightly
Enforcement
County Noise Control Officer, Sec. 24-311

Summary

Chatham County enforces a nighttime noise curfew through Sec. 24-304: residential property lines that may run up to 60 dBA by day must fall to 55 dBA between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Daytime-only exemptions for domestic power tools, lawn mowers, tree trimmers and electrical tools end at 10 p.m. under Sec. 24-304(2), so running them later is a violation.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Chatham County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Residential 7 A.M. - 10 P.M. 60 / 10 P.M. - 7 A.M. 55 ... Any zoning district containing the letter "R." ... 2. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the operation of the following domestic power tools or equipment between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M.: a. Electrical power tools. b. Motor-powered, muffler equipped lawn, garden, and tree trimming equipment.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Sec. the following morning. Business districts stay at a flat 65 dBA and industrial districts at 75 dBA around the clock, so the curfew effect is specific to residential and posted Noise Sensitive Area zoning, both of which fall to 55 dBA overnight. Sec. m. Once that window closes, the equipment loses its exemption and is measured against the ordinary noise disturbance standard like any other sound source. A pure-tone source, one heard as a single pitch, must clear the applicable limit by another 5 dBA under the Table 1 footnotes.

The county's Noise Control Officer administers the ordinance under Sec. 24-311 and may issue abatement orders for nighttime violations; the underlying complaint still has to show the sound crossed the real property boundary of a residential or noise-sensitive receiving use, not merely that it was audible somewhere on the source's own lot.

Violations & Fines

Running amplified sound, tools, or other equipment past the exempt window and across a residential property line at more than 55 dBA is a noise disturbance under Sec. 24-304. A conviction is a misdemeanor under Sec. 24-311(3), punishable the same as any other county misdemeanor, up to $500 and 30 days in jail per Sec. 2-108, and every night the violation repeats counts as a new offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Chatham County's noise curfew start?
The residential noise limit drops from 60 dBA to 55 dBA at 10 p.m. under Sec. 24-304's Table 1, and stays at 55 dBA until 7 a.m. Business and industrial zones are not affected by the clock change; only residential and posted Noise Sensitive Area zoning fall under the nighttime cap.
Can I mow my lawn at night in Chatham County?
No. Sec. 24-304(2) exempts electrical power tools and muffler-equipped lawn, garden and tree-trimming equipment from the noise rules only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Running a mower or trimmer after 10 p.m. removes the exemption, and the sound is judged against the ordinary residential limit like any other source.
What happens if I violate Chatham County's quiet hours repeatedly?
Each night a violation continues is charged as a separate offense under the county's general penalty, Sec. 2-108, so repeat nighttime noise can mean a new $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail for every date logged, on top of any abatement order from the Noise Control Officer.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Chatham County

Construction HoursSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsDecibel LimitsSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsVehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: FireworksHeavy RestrictionsFire Regulations: Smoke DetectorsSome RestrictionsEnvironmental Rules: Stormwater ManagementSome RestrictionsNoise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub NoiseSignificant RestrictionsNoise from Specific Sources: Delivery Truck NoiseSome RestrictionsBusiness Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body ModificationSome Restrictions

All Chatham County rules

How Chatham County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Chatham County to another location·View the Georgia noise ordinances overview

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