Check your noise levels if you live in Gwinnett County - a new noise ordinance approved by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners on May 18 is in effect as of today, June 1.
The new ordinance replaces a noise ordinance enacted in 2015 in response to the Georgia law allowing the use of consumer fireworks.
Under the provisions of the new ordinance, sound will be regulated depending on the location, the time of day and the distance from which the sound is plainly audible. [From a legal perspective, "plainly audible" refers to a sound that is clearly capable of being heard by someone with normal hearing capabilities without the use of hearing assistance.] The noise levels permitted under the ordinance are different depending on county zoning; in other words, there are variances in permitted noise in residential, multi-use and business zonings.
Some municipalities in the Gwinnett County use a decibel system to measure noise violations, according to discussion that took place at the May 18 Board meeting, while others use the plainly audible standard that the county will use.
As part of the new ordinance, the county created a permit process to accommodate events that might briefly exceed the sound limit. Information about permits and applications for permits are available from the Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development.
Follow this link to read the full content of Gwinnett County's new noise control ordinance.
