Nashville Tennessee

City Noise Ordinance

Title 11 PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE

Chapter 11.12 OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE

11.12.070 Excessive noise--Use of televisions and radios restricted.

A. No person or persons owning, employing or having the care, custody or possession of any musical instrument, radio set, television set, phonograph, Victrola or other instrument, machine or device for amplifying, producing or reproducing sound, shall operate, use or permit to be operated or used such instrument, machine or device in such a manner as to disturb the peace and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants or at any time with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing of the persons who are in the room or chamber in which or who are on the premises from which such instrument, machine or device is operated and who are voluntary listeners thereto.

B. The operation of any such instrument, machine or device in such a manner as to be plainly audible on any adjacent or adjoining property shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section unless specifically permitted by ordinance or law or by an agency or department of metropolitan government.

C. No person operating or occupying a motor vehicle on any street, highway, alley, parking lot, or driveway, either public or private property, shall operate or permit the operation of any sound amplification system, including, but not limited to, any radio, tape player, compact disc player, loud speaker, or any other electrical device used for the amplification of sound from within the motor vehicle so that the sound is plainly audible at a distance of fifty or more feet from the vehicle or, in the case of a motor vehicle on private property, beyond the property line. For the purpose of this subsection, "plainly audible" means any sound which clearly can be heard, by unimpaired auditory senses based on a direct line of sight of fifty or more feet, however, words or phrases need not be discernible and said sound shall include bass reverberation. Prohibitions contained in this section shall not be applicable to emergency or public safety vehicles, vehicles owned and operated by the metropolitan government or any utility company, for sound emitted unavoidably during job-related operation, or any motor vehicle used in an authorized public activity for which a permit has been granted by the appropriate agency of the metropolitan government. (Amdt. 1 to Ord. 93-724, 8/3/93; Ord. 93-724 § 1, 1993; Ord. 88-508 § 1, 1988: prior code § 29-1-54)