Franklin, TN Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

The Franklin Municipal Code is published by Municode at library.municode.com/tn/franklin and organized into 24 titles plus the Part I Charter. Noise is regulated in Title 11 (Municipal Offenses), Chapter 4 (Offenses Against the Peace and Quiet), specifically Section 11-402 and Section 11-403 ('Unnecessary Noises'). The City of Franklin Police Department has repeatedly summarized 11-402 as prohibiting any noise that 'annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others,' and the partial enumerated list of 'loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises' includes honking horns or signaling devices (except in emergencies), squealing tires, revving engines, loud mufflers, and loud vehicle sound systems. Franklin does not publish a hard 'lights-out' residential clock in 11-402; instead, the City applies a stricter reasonableness test 'between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.' for amplification equipment and live bands. Two state-law overlays apply across the city: Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-308 makes 'unreasonable noise' a form of disorderly conduct (Class C misdemeanor), and TCA 55-8-193 prohibits any vehicle sound amplification system that is 'plainly audible from 50 or more feet away from the vehicle.' Complaints for in-progress disturbances route to the Franklin Police non-emergency line at 615-794-2513 (24 hours). The Police Department announced a 'zero tolerance' enforcement posture for vehicle noise and amplified music violations in the downtown core, with a minimum citation cost of $126.