Noise ordinances › Knoxville, TN

Knoxville noise ordinance: quiet hours, limits and complaints

Last updated: October 30, 2026

Documenting this? A dated log of when the noise started, when it stopped and how loud it got is what Knoxville acts on. Log noise levels for a complaint — free, runs in your browser, records no audio.

Quiet hours in Knoxville

Night for the decibel standards is midnight to 7 a.m.: sound from a residential use drops from 65 dB(C) (7 a.m. to midnight) to 60 dB(C), and from a commercial use from 80 dB(C) to 75 dB(C); industrial uses, impulsive sound (80 dB(C)) and public premises (65 dB(C) at about 20 feet) have one limit at all hours (18-3). Construction: the exception for excavation, construction, demolition, repair, paving or alteration of buildings or streets does not apply in a residential use between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m., except in case of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety, and then only with a permit from the building inspector, who may also allow such work between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. if public health and safety will not be impaired and loss or inconvenience would otherwise result to a party in interest (18-8(5)). Domestic power equipment, such as power lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, snowblowers, tillers, saws, sanders and drills, is exempt from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (18-8(6)). Refuse collection and compacting vehicles may not operate between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. in a residential use (18-8(10)). Cleaning and maintenance of parking lots and access roadways open to the public is exempt only when it is not feasible between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. (18-8(11)). Special noise permits are valid only on a Friday, Saturday or federally recognized holiday, between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. (18-9(b)). The disturbance rule (18-4) and the 50-foot vehicle audio rule (18-5) have no clock, though the time of day is one of the factors for 18-4 (18-4(b)(9)). Chapter 18 sets no separate weekend hours.

Decibel limits

Yes, in C-weighted decibels only. Section 18-3(a) bars sound from any source that, measured from the real property boundary of the source, exceeds: residential use, 65 dB(C) from 7 a.m. to midnight and 60 dB(C) from midnight to 7 a.m.; commercial use, 80 dB(C) and 75 dB(C); industrial use, 80 dB(C) for continuous or impulsive sound at any hour; impulsive sound from residential and commercial uses, 80 dB(C) at all hours. On a public premise (property owned or controlled by a government, including streets, alleys, parks and navigable waterways, but not property leased to a nongovernmental entity for residential, commercial or industrial use), airborne sound may not exceed 65 dB(C), or 80 dB(C) for impulsive sound, measured about 20 feet from the source; this does not apply to legitimate government operations, special events permitted through the city office of special events, or events approved by the city police department (18-2, 18-3(b)). Measurement (18-2, 18-3(c)): a sound pressure level meter read on the dB(C) scale, with C-weighting as defined in the American National Standard the code cites as S1I.4-1983 (R 2006); readings at about 5 feet above grade, on slow meter response, with a wind screen when appropriate. Impulsive sound is sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay, such as explosions, drop forge impacts and the discharge of firearms (18-2). Which limit applies depends on the use the sound comes from, not the use of the property hearing it; residential use includes schools, churches, hospitals, nursing homes and similar institutions, and premises adjoining, adjacent to or opposite hospitals or nursing homes (18-2). A special noise permit allows no more than 10 dB(C) above the 18-3 standards (18-9(d)). Rules with no meter: unreasonably loud, unusual, disturbing or unnecessary noise by human voice, machine, animal or device that disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood, causes discomfort or annoyance to a reasonable person of normal sensitivity residing in the area, or otherwise injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, safety or welfare of others (18-4(a)), judged by eleven listed factors (18-4(b)); eight listed acts that violate the chapter even under the 18-3 levels (18-4(c)); and audio in or on a motor vehicle audible to a person of normal hearing sensitivity more than 50 feet from the vehicle in public places, or more than 50 feet outside the property line when the vehicle is on private property, where words need not be discernible and bass reverberation counts (18-5).

What the ordinance actually says

§ 18-3(a): "No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit sound from any source which, when measured from the real property boundary of the source of the sound, is in excess of the following standards:"

§ 18-3(a)(1)a: "When the offending sound emanates from a residential use between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight, sound which has an C-weighted sound pressure level of 65 dB(C), or impulsive sound which has an C-weighted sound pressure level of 80 dB(C)."

§ 18-3(a)(1)b: "When the offending sound emanates from a residential use between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00 a.m., sound which has an C-weighted sound pressure level of 60 dB(C), or impulsive sound which has an C-weighted sound pressure level of 80 dB(C)."

§ 18-3(c): "Sound, whether continuous or impulsive, shall be measured at approximately five (5) feet above grade, using a slow meter response setting and using a wind screen when appropriate."

§ 18-4(c): "The following acts, among others, are declared to be unreasonably loud, unusual or unnecessary noises in violation of this chapter, even if the noises referred to do not violate the noise level standards set forth in § 18-3:"

§ 18-4(c)(5): "Animals and birds. The keeping of any animal or bird which, by frequent barking, howling, crying, singing or causing any other frequent or long-continued noise, disturbs the comfort and repose of any person in the vicinity."

§ 18-5: "Consistent with other provisions of this chapter, and in addition thereto, no person shall use or operate any radio, tape player, record player, compact disc player or any similar device in or on a motor vehicle located on the public streets of the city, property owned by or leased to Knoxville's community development corporation, or within a public park, within a public parking lot or on any other public premise within the city, which is audible to a person of normal hearing sensitivity more than fifty (50) feet from such vehicle, nor shall any person use or operate any radio, tape player, record player, compact disc player or any similar device in or on a motor vehicle located on private property which is audible to a person of normal hearing sensitivity more than fifty (50) feet outside the real property boundary of said property."

§ 18-6: "Each violation of this chapter shall be considered a separate offense, and any violation continuing more than one-half (½) hour or reoccurring within one-half (½) hour shall be considered a separate offense for each half hour of violation."

§ 18-7: "Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as requiring any warning to any person before the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter."

§ 18-8(5): "This exception shall not apply to such excavation, construction, demolition, repair, paving or alteration of buildings or streets in a residential use between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. except in case of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety, and then only with a permit from the building inspector."

Quoted verbatim from the official codified text (Knoxville Code of Ordinances Chapter 18 "Noise", Secs. 18-1 to 18-10: 18-1 Preamble, 18-2 Definitions, 18-3 Standards, 18-4 Loud, unusual or unnecessary noises prohibited; criteria; other prohibited noises, 18-5 Noise from motor vehicle audio equipment, 18-6 Continuing violations, 18-7 No warning required, 18-8 Exceptions, 18-9 Special noise permits, 18-10 Severability; application of other ordinances. History: Ord. No. O-507-98, § 1, 10-6-98 (all sections); 18-2 amended by Ord. No. O-26-2015, § 1, 2-3-15; 18-3 by Ord. No. O-26-2015, § 2, 2-3-15, and Ord. No. O-116-2018, § 1, 8-28-18; 18-4 by Ord. No. O-116-2018, § 1, 8-28-18; 18-9 by Ord. No. O-26-2015, § 3, 2-3-15. Text read on Municode, the City's code host, Supplement 81, online content updated September 9, 2026, on 2026-10-30.). Verified against the live code on 2026-10-30. Ordinances get amended — before acting on a specific provision, check the linked official code. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.

How to file a noise complaint in Knoxville

Call the Knoxville Police Department's non-emergency line, 865-215-4010. KPD's Report Suspicious Activity page lists the KPD non-emergency phone number as 865.215.4010 and, in its list of when to call the non-emergency line instead of 9-1-1, includes non-emergency order maintenance or quality of life issues, with a noise complaint as the example. KPD's home page lists the same non-emergency number, the KPD main number 865-215-7000, and 911 (call or text) for emergencies. Under the code, nothing in Chapter 18 requires a warning before enforcement (18-7), each violation is a separate offense, and a violation that continues more than half an hour, or recurs within half an hour, is a separate offense for each half hour (18-6); special noise permits for limited exceptions come from the city office of special events (18-9(a)). Chapter 18 itself states no fine or other penalty. Sources: https://knoxvilletnpolice.gov/report-suspicious-activity/ and https://knoxvilletnpolice.gov/.

Step by step, with what to log and what to expect after you file: how to file a noise complaint in Knoxville. For the general playbook — documenting the problem, talking to a landlord or HOA, when 311 beats 911 — see the noise complaints guide.

Worth knowing

(1) C-weighting only: every Knoxville limit is in dB(C), read on a sound pressure level meter set to the dB(C) scale (18-2), so an A-weighted reading, in dB(A), is not the measure the code uses and cannot be compared directly with these limits. (2) The limit follows the source: the standard depends on the use the sound comes from (residential, commercial or industrial), and the reading is taken at the source's own real property boundary, not inside the home of the person bothered (18-3(a)). (3) Shared buildings: the code's real property boundary does not include intrabuilding real property divisions (18-2), so the 18-3 meter test is not taken at a wall or floor between units; the disturbance rule in 18-4 still applies. (4) Residential use is broad: it includes schools, churches, hospitals, nursing homes and similar institutional facilities, and, for this chapter only, premises adjoining, adjacent to or opposite a hospital or nursing home (18-2). (5) The meter is not the only test: unreasonably loud, unusual, disturbing or unnecessary noise is unlawful in addition to the 18-3 limits, weighed by factors including the frequency and intensity of the noise, the ambient noise, proximity to residential sleeping facilities, land use, population density, time of day, duration and whether it is recurrent, intermittent or constant (18-4(a), (b)), and eight listed acts violate the chapter even under the 18-3 levels: sounding a vehicle horn or signaling device except as a danger signal (when the vehicle is not moving, only if another vehicle is approaching apparently out of control; when it is moving, only as the brakes are applied), making an unreasonably loud or harsh sound with it, or sounding it for an unnecessary and unreasonable time; steam whistles, except to mark the start or end of work, as a fire or danger warning or at the City's request; exhaust without an effective muffler; drums or other devices used to draw attention to a performance, show or sale; animals or birds whose frequent or long-continued noise disturbs the comfort and repose of anyone in the vicinity; sound trucks and vehicle loudspeakers that emit loud and raucous noises on City streets or on driveways and throughways of Knoxville's community development corporation; vehicles so out of repair or so loaded that they grate, grind or rattle; and compressed-air devices that are not effectively muffled (18-4(c)). (6) Car stereos: audio in or on a motor vehicle may not be audible to a person of normal hearing sensitivity more than 50 feet from the vehicle on public streets, community development corporation property, public parks, public parking lots or other public premises, or more than 50 feet outside the property line when the vehicle is on private property; words need not be discernible, and bass reverberation counts (18-5). (7) No warning, and the clock runs: nothing in the chapter requires a warning before enforcement (18-7), and a violation lasting more than half an hour, or recurring within half an hour, counts as a separate offense for each half hour (18-6). (8) Special noise permits from the office of special events: only for a Friday, Saturday or federally recognized holiday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., one day each, no more than two per premises in any 12-month period regardless of a change in ownership, applied for at least three business days ahead and displayed on the premises; a permit lifts 18-3, 18-4 and 18-5 for that date, but sound may not exceed the 18-3 standards by more than 10 dB(C), and breaking a condition voids the permit (18-9). (9) Not covered (18-8): City and public utility vehicles on necessary public business; night excavation or repair of bridges, streets or highways by or for the City, county or state when daytime work is impossible; emergency activities of the City, county, state and public utilities; special events authorized under section 16-330 or otherwise by the City; construction, except in a residential use from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.; domestic power equipment from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; on-site noise of organized sporting events on school campuses and in publicly owned parks or facilities; warning devices on emergency and traffic-safety vehicles; bells and chimes on schools, public buildings and other places of assembly; refuse vehicles, except from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. in a residential use; parking lot cleaning when daytime work is not feasible; aircraft in flight subject to federal noise law and helicopters landing or taking off with approval under section 3-29; air conditioning and refrigeration units that are not so out of repair as to grate, grind or rattle; the sounds of children 12 and under, including speech, laughter, cries and play; and security alarms that stop within five minutes for continuous sound or 15 minutes for impulsive sound. (10) Public property: the 65 dB(C) limit at about 20 feet on public premises does not apply to legitimate government operations, special events permitted through the office of special events, or events approved by the police department (18-3(b)). (11) Penalties: Chapter 18 has no penalty section and states no fine; the Code's general penalty provision, outside Chapter 18, was not read for this summary. The chapter does not negate or supersede any other City ordinance unless it says so (18-10(b)).

Document it before you report it

Knoxville's limits are measured numbers, so a reading is direct evidence of how loud it really is. Take a quick reading with the free online decibel meter — it runs in your browser and records nothing — and check how loud your block is on the Knoxville noise map. For time-stamped measurement history you can show a landlord or code officer, the app keeps a log.