Commissioners in Banks County are considering enacting a noise ordinance in the county.
At the board of commissioners meeting on July 29, commissioners and county officials discussed various aspects of a proposed ordinance to limit noise impacts on surrounding properties, particularly with music impacting residential properties. Also discussed was the potential of requiring special event permits for instances where 100 or more people gather at a residential property.
Currently, Banks County does not have a specific noise ordinance for residential areas. One resident raised a concern that her home had been negatively impacted by music from an adjacent property.
Commissioners, however, raised concerns over possible overreach with the ordinance.
"A large group gathering at my house is Thanksgiving and Christmas because I have between 70 and 100 family members at my house, and you're going to tell me I can't have my teenage grandkids having music or something?" District 2 Commissioner Bo Garrison said. "Overreach."
Commission Chairman said he felt attendance caps shouldn't be a part of a potential noise ordinance, saying that standards should be based on impact on neighboring properties.
"I think you go by property lines...If you're sitting in the middle of 100 acres, there ain't nobody hearing your noise anyway," Griffith said.
Commissioners ultimately agreed to continue to consider a proposed ordinance given by county staff and hold public hearings to gather feedback from residents. The current proposed ordinance would restrict loud noise audible from neighboring properties between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Banks County Board of Commissioners next meeting is Tuesday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Banks County Courthouse Annex on Hudson Ridge in Homer.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/8/1296004/banks-co-commissioners-considering-proposed-noise-ordinance