Neighborhood Noise Complaints

 

Please review the information below and call the police at 615.862.8600 to report noise complaints:  Noise complaints are handled exclusively by the police.  Call 862-8600 to report.   Metro Code section 11.12.070 sets the limits on “excessive noise.  Rebar and the others are zoned DTC which mean “downtown core”[the Adelicia is not zoned DTC, we’re ORI]. For those businesses, prerecorded music is limited to 85 decibels measured at street level 50 feet from the outside wall of the building where the music is produced.  No outside speakers are permitted, except in restaurant seating areas, and their 85 decibels level is measured 50 feet from the property line of the restaurant.  Prerecorded music is limited to the hours of 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.  There is a separate noise limit in the DTC for commercial machinery, etc – between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., it shall not exceed 85 decibels. 85 decibels is described as equivalent to “city traffic (inside car).”  http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html Live Music is exempted from the 85 decibel limitation.  For live music, there is no guidance on what is “too loud” although the zoning guy I spoke with said it was not “unlimited.”  The police have discretion to determine what is too loud, so call 862-8600.  Outside live amplified music is permitted within 50 feet of a residence only between 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; except in the DTC zone.  Apparently there is no time limit for outside live music in the DTC, except that which controls the business as a whole.  In other words, for Rebar and the others, they can continue until closing, which is 3 a.m.  At least for now, we need to encourage residents to call the police – 862-8600 – to report noise complaints.  Our councilwoman, Erica Gilmore, says that this is needed before any effort can be made to amend the code.  Contact Gilmore at http://www.nashville.gov/council/feedback.aspx The Metro Code is here:  http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientID=14214&stateID=42&statename=Tennessee Bill Marett, Pres. Bd. of Dir.Adelicia Condominium Association, Inc.