Fulton County, GA Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Fulton 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
- Code
- Fulton County Code §46-137
- Standard
- Loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise
- Fixed quiet hours
- None
- Max fine
- $500
- Max confinement
- One month in county work camp
- Scope
- Unincorporated Fulton County
Summary
Unincorporated Fulton County has no fixed quiet hours. Instead, County Code § 46-137 bans any loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise, and any noise that annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of others. A guilty finding carries up to one month in a county work camp, a fine of up to $500.00, or both.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise, or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of others in the county. Upon finding of guilt for the violation of this section, the offender shall be subject to imprisonment in a county work camp for a term not exceeding one month or by fine not exceeding $500.00, or both.
Full Breakdown
Section 46-137 is written broadly. It reaches anyone who makes a noise, continues one, or causes a noise to be made or continued, so a property owner who lets a disturbance go on can fall under the ordinance along with the person actually making the sound. Two paths lead to a violation: the noise itself is loud, unnecessary, or unusual, or the noise annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of others in the county. Neither path depends on the clock, which is why the county sets no defined nighttime window; a disturbance at midday is judged the same way as one at midnight.
The county code enumerates examples of what qualifies, including steam whistles, unmuffled exhausts, defective vehicles, and loud loading and unloading. The rule covers unincorporated Fulton County only. Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, and South Fulton each enforce their own noise codes inside their limits, and Atlanta's lives in its Chapter 74. 00, or both.
Violations & Fines
Upon a finding of guilt under § 46-137, the offender is subject to imprisonment in a county work camp for a term not exceeding one month, a fine not exceeding $500.00, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fulton County set fixed quiet hours?
Does the county noise rule apply inside Atlanta?
Can I be penalized for noise someone else makes on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fulton County
How Fulton County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Fulton County to another location·View the Georgia noise ordinances overview
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