Learn more about Atlanta’s Noise Ordinance.

As your NPU partner, when a sound becomes a nuisance, we want to help you find answers.

The City of Atlanta’s Noise Ordinance governs how and when different types of sounds can travel through the city at certain distances.

It is meant to balance the needs of a growing and a vibrant economy with the quality of life expectations of those that work and live nearby.

Noise ordinance variances are issued by City of Atlanta’s DCP Office of Buildings.

A variance can be issued to allow for unusual circumstances, typically for a construction phase or filming production. Each variance can last up to 14 days. A variance can be reapplied for and projects will often have numerous variances over the lifespan of the work.

Notification is provided to the NPU and Council Member affected by the variance.

SUMMARY OF THE ORDINANCE:

  • …300 feet from origin from 7:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7:00 a.m. through 12:00 midnight on Friday and Saturday.

    …100 feet from origin from 11:00 p.m. through 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12:00 a.m midnight through 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

  • …the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day on a weekday or between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on a weekend day or legal holiday and should not be heard within any single-family residential, two-family residential, or multi-family residential zoning district more than 100 feet from the origin of the sound. Examples of construction noise can be reviewed here.

  • …including leaf blowers, lawn mowers, or chainsaws are restricted within 300 feet of any single-family residential, two-family residential, multi-family residential, or mixed-use zoning district from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.

  • …apply. Read about those here.

IT IS NOISY. WHAT DO I DO?

If you are experiencing a noise nuisance, please follow the following steps:

  1. Check the list below for a variance; if you do not see a current variance listed for the property of origin, proceed to Step 2

  2. Call 911

    1. request an officer to respond and assess the noise first hand

    2. provide your name, address and phone number so that the responding officer can contact you while on location

  3. Email any or all of the following: (1) NPU-E Chairman, (2) APD Commander, or (3) City Council Member and share your experience for their follow-up on abatement or citation.

Current Variances

Contact

Have questions? Email your NPU-E officers anytime.

General inquiries: admin@npueatlanta.org

Chairman: Nabil Hammam chair@npueatlanta.org

Vice Chairman: Courtney Smith vicechair@npueatlanta.org

Secretary: Penelope Cheroff secretary@npueatlanta.org

Download a directory of all NPU-E member neighborhood contacts.