Last month, we shared the news that the City of Asheville was seeking community feedback + input on potential revisions to the Asheville Noise Ordinance, which hasn’t seen significant changes since 2000. The public comment period has been extended until Fri., Dec. 11, and the revised ordinance will go to Council for a vote in Feb.
So what are the proposed changes to the ordinance? Here are some of the highlights, based on information gathered by the city from nearly 1500 paper + online responses over the course of a year:
- Establishing daytime as occurring between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and night as taking place between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
- Creating objective decibel limits for business areas
- Common noises, like jake braking + speakers, will see new prohibitions
- Outdoor cultural events, like music spots and events with fireworks, require new permit requirements
- Construction noise will see expanded permit requirements — including only being allowed 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Mon.-Sat. in all districts and requiring 72 hours of notice for all addresses within 500 feet of any after hours construction
- Landlords must better manage tenant’s noise
- Increased penalties for offenders
- Busking will be regulated like other public right of way issues and prohibited after 10 p.m.
- Noise control is now part of the city’s Reimaging Public Safety initiative
- Music venues are required to acquire new Sound Exceedance permits for events whose decibels exceed the maximum level, as well as end the exceedent sounds by 10 p.m. Venues must also give 72 hours of advance notice to all addresses within 500 feet of the event
The proposed changes concern some folks in the community, including some members of Asheville’s music scene, who say that the revised ordinance further endangers local musicians + venues, who are already struggling from the pandemic’s effect on the music industry. Today at 5 p.m., nonprofit Asheville Music Professionals will host a webinar with city officials on how the proposed changes will affect the music community.
