Noise Ordinance Revisions

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:

Release of the draft Noise Ordinance has been postponed due to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 public health emergency. Sign up here to receive email notification when the draft noise ordinance is released.

Happening Now

In February 2019, the City of Asheville undertook the process of updating its municipal noise ordinance (UDO Chapter 10 – Article IV).

Between March to October 2019, City staff engaged residents, business owners, industrial and institutional operators to identify and prioritize noise concerns and discuss practical solutions.

To date, this engagement has included:

30 stakeholder meetings and forums
1,490 digital and paper survey responses
150+ NoiseScore smartphone app “noise reviews”

This feedback reflects Asheville’s diverse experience with excessive noise and provides a clear picture of community perspectives about noise issues. Click here for a visual summary.

In December 2019, city staff presented public engagement and data findings to the Public Safety Committee.

In March 2020, the project team will finalize a draft noise ordinance and post on this web page for public comment before presenting to Council Committees in March and to the City Council for final hearing in April.

See the timeline below for more details on the noise ordinance revision process to date. Click here for more information about filing a noise complaint.

Background

As Asheville continues to develop and grow, the City of Asheville recognizes the need to revisit and update the current municipal ordinance governing excessive noise in the City limits (Chapter 10 – Article IV). In 2019, City staff engaged residents, business owners, industrial, and institutional operators in a public process to identify and prioritize noise concerns and develop clear and enforceable thresholds for noise generation.

The City of Asheville recognizes the following foundation for noise ordinance development:

Excessive noise is a hazard to the public health, welfare, and safety.
The community has a right to an environment free from excessive noise that may degrade their quality of life or diminish property values.
Noise Ordinance development must use equity as a lens through which to evaluate policy criteria and enforcement action.
Noise Ordinance development must balance the reasonable needs of residents and visitors with those of facilities and operations, and recognize that all parties are essential to a thriving local economy.
Excessive noise generation can be reasonably addressed through the adoption of a Noise Ordinance that contains clear, enforceable, and effective measures to control noise.

Timeline

The following timeline is subject to change according to progress of the public engagement process. Changes and updates will be reflected on this project page.

February 2019 — City staff began collecting and analyzing available noise data and benchmarking examples of noise ordinances from other municipalities.

March 2019 — The City launched a city-wide survey through Open City Hall in English and Spanish that gathered input from residents to better understand current noise sources and perceptions toward noise in the city. The survey remained open for resident input until June 16, 2019. Paper surveys were made available at the front counters of the following locations:

The Linwood Crump Shiloh Center, 121 Shiloh Rd.
South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Rd.
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave.
Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St.
Burton Street Center, 134 Burton St.
East Asheville Branch Library, 906 Tunnel Rd.
Asheville Housing Authority, 165 S French Broad Ave.

The City also promoted the NoiseScore app, a free smartphone and tablet app for Androids and iPhones developed by Boston University’s Community Noise Lab and Software & Application Innovation Lab (SAIL). Results can be viewed on real time on the live NoiseScore map. To see results on the live NoiseScore map, set the date range between 3/25/19 to today’s date. The NoiseScore app should not be used to file a noise complaint with the City of Asheville. Click here for more information about filing a noise complaint.

April – September 2019 — The City held a series of separate meetings with residents, businesses and institutional/industrial groups to hear concerns and ordinance recommendations, and review preliminary survey results.

Residential Outreach	Date/Time	Location
Residential small group meeting	March 3, 4 p.m.	Public Works Building, Room A-109
Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods small group meeting	March 26, 9 a.m.	Public Works Building, Room A-109
Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods monthly meeting	April 8, 4 p.m.	First Baptist Church, 5 Oak Street
Downtown Asheville Residents monthly meeting	April 18, 2 p.m.	City Bakery, 60 Biltmore Avenue
Neighborhood Advisory Committee monthly meeting	April 22, 6:30 p.m.	City Hall, First Floor Conference Room
Neighborhood Association small group facilitated content meeting	May 6, 4 p.m.	Public Works Building, Room A-109
Residents Noise Ordinance Forum	May 16, 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.	Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center
Neighborhood Issues Forum	August 3, 10:00 am	Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center

Business Outreach	Date/Time	Location
Asheville Independent Restaurants monthly meeting	April 3, 9 a.m.	27 College Place
Asheville Downtown Association monthly meeting	April 10, 12 p.m.	The Grove Arcade Conference Room
Charlotte Street Business Association monthly meeting	April 23, 8 am.	Taco Temple, 132 Charlotte Street
Eagle/Market Street Business Association monthly meeting	April 24, 2 p.m.	The Block Off Biltmore, 39 S. Market Street
West Asheville Business Association monthly meeting	April 25, 8:30 a.m.	Isis Music Hall, 743 Haywood Road
River Arts District Business Association	April 30, 4 p.m.	FLS Energy, 130 Roberts Street
Asheville Independent Restaurants membership meeting	April 9, 9 a.m.	27 College Place
Buskers group meeting	May 14, 8:30 a.m.	Public Works, Room A109
Business Noise Ordinance Forum	May 15, 8:30 a.m.	Chamber of Commerce, 2nd Floor Conference Room
Asheville Music Professionals (AMP)	June 13, 10:00 a.m.	Public Works, Development Services Conference Rm

Industrial/Construction Outreach	Date/Time	Location
Industrial/Construction Noise Ordinance Forum	May 14, 8 a.m.	Public Works, Room A109
Mission Hospital Noise Ordinance meeting	July 19, 11 a.m.	Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center
Waste Hauler meeting	December 11, 9 a.m.	Public Works, Room A109

Additional Meeting	Date/Time	Location
Downtown Commission monthly meeting	May 10, 8:30 a.m.	City Hall, First Floor Conference Room
Public Safety Committee monthly meeting	May 23, 11:00 a.m.	City Hall, First Floor Conference Room
Public Safety Committee monthly meeting	August 22, 11:00 a.m.	City Hall, First Floor Conference Room
Noise Ordinance Update Meeting	September 23, 3:30 p.m.	Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center
Public Safety Committee monthly meeting	December 17, 1:30 p.m.	City Hall, First Floor Conference Room

June – July 2019 — City staff organized public engagement results and compiled final results from the Open City Hall survey (closed June 16, 2019) and paper surveys.

August 2019 — City staff co-hosted Neighborhood Issues Forum on Aug. 3; City staff released a public engagement summary and began collecting sound measurement samples.

September 2019 — City staff held a joint meeting with all groups to review findings, progress, and outstanding concerns on September 23 from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m at the A-B Tech Mission Health Conference Center at 16 Fernihurst Drive. City staff continue to gather sound measurement samples and collect surveys from residents participating in the following Buncombe County Community Engagement Markets:

Sept. 16 at Deaverview Community Center
Sept. 18 at Shiloh/Rock Hill Church
Sept. 24 at Bartlett Arms Apartments
Sept. 25 at Pisgah View Apartments
October 7 at the Arthur A. Edington Center

October – November 2019 – City staff completed public engagement and data analysis.

December 2019 – City staff presented a data and engagement summary to the Public Safety Committee on Dec. 17 at 1:30 p.m. in the First Floor Conference Room of City Hall. Click here for the presentation. Click here for the supporting narrative report.

February 2020 – City staff will finalize a draft noise ordinance.

March 2020 (postponed due to Coronavirus/COVID-19) – City staff will post the proposed noise ordinance on this webpage for public review and comment and present a draft noise ordinance to City boards and commissions; meeting times will be posted here once scheduled.

April 2020 (tentative) – City staff will present a draft noise ordinance to the City Council for public hearing; meeting time will be posted here once scheduled.

Supporting Documents

Noise Ordinance Public Engagement and Data Report (December 2019)

Noise Public Engagement Summary (August 2019)

City of Asheville Noise Ordinance Appeals Board web page

City of Asheville Noise Complaint Heat Map (March 2019)

Municipal Noise Ordinance Case Examples (March 2019)

Article – ¿Cómo afecta el ruido su calidad de vida?

Closed on 06/16/19: Noise Ordinance Survey (versión en Español aquí)

Noise Score – A mobile app for community noise issues: Use this free app to measure and map noise in your environment and view results in real time! The Noise Score app should not be used to file a noise complaint with the City of Asheville.