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. Noise Ordinance Update Meeting Presentations and Notes Presentation – Noise Ordinance Update to the Public Safety Committee on 12/17/19 Notes – Noise Ordinance Update on 09/23/19 Presentation – Noise Ordinance Update on 09/23/19 Notes – Neighborhood Issues Forum on 08/03/19 Presentation – Noise Ordinance Update to the Public Safety Committee 06/23/19 Notes – Residents Noise Forums on 5/16/2019 Notes – Business Noise Forum on 5/15/2019 Notes – Institutional/Industrial Noise Forum on 5/14/2019 Presentation – Noise Ordinance Update April 2019 Contact Information Ben Woody, AICP Director, Development Services Department 828-259-5679 Related Services Learn about large-scale development Keep up to date on current projects and applications. Register a commercial development neighborhood meeting notice Register a notice for a commercial development neighborhood meeting. Schedule a mandatory Technical Review Committee pre-application meeting Schedule your required pre-application meeting for Level II, Level III, Conditional Zoning and Major Subdivision reviews. Schedule an optional early assistance meeting Receive expert technical advice from staff during the preliminary phase of a project, for prospective business owners, developers, and designers Apply for a commercial site development permit Submit development plans for Level I, Level II, Level III, Major Subdivision, Conditional Zoning, or Conditional Use projects. Apply for a homestay permit Apply for a new homestay permit or apply to renew your existing permit. Build an addition or remodel a house Forms and guides to remodel or build an addition to a residential property Apply for a trade permit Apply for residential and commercial electrical, gas piping, plumbing, mechanical, re-roof, or multi-trade permits. Build a detached structure or deck Guide and forms to build a deck, shed, solar array, retaining wall, swimming pool, or other accessory structure on a residential property Build a new house, duplex, townhome or modular home Links to all of the forms you may need to build a new house Look up information about a permit Use online tools to look up information about permits Check whether your address is within city limits Search to see if it is within the City of Asheville's permitting jurisdiction. More Related Services Noise Ordinance Revisions News City of Asheville issues protocols for inspections during State of Emergency Posted on March 30, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville is modifying its operations until further notice to protect residents and City staff while minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The Development Services Department (DSD) requests that contractors maintain a clean and safe environment for City staff so we may continue to provide inspection services. Please follow CDC guidelines ( City of Asheville eases restrictions on food trucks and temporary signage Posted on March 26, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville is taking steps to increase access to safe dining options during the course of this COVID-19 public health emergency. To do so, on March 24, Mayor Esther Manheimer amended the City’s State of Emergency declaration to exempt food trucks and restaurants from certain portions of the City’s Unified Development Ordinance. These [...] 2020 City of Asheville initiatives: What to look for in the new year Posted on December 31, 2019January 8, 2020 by Polly McDaniel With a new year comes new programs, facility improvements and projects to improve our community. Here’s a look ahead at 10 Asheville City government initiatives as we ring in not only a new year, but a new decade in 2020. Civic Center gets Harrah’s Cherokee name The year 2020 will start with excitement for the newly named Harrah’s Cherokee Center — [...] More Noise Ordinance Revisions News
Register a commercial development neighborhood meeting notice Register a notice for a commercial development neighborhood meeting.
Schedule a mandatory Technical Review Committee pre-application meeting Schedule your required pre-application meeting for Level II, Level III, Conditional Zoning and Major Subdivision reviews.
Schedule an optional early assistance meeting Receive expert technical advice from staff during the preliminary phase of a project, for prospective business owners, developers, and designers
Apply for a commercial site development permit Submit development plans for Level I, Level II, Level III, Major Subdivision, Conditional Zoning, or Conditional Use projects.
Build an addition or remodel a house Forms and guides to remodel or build an addition to a residential property
Apply for a trade permit Apply for residential and commercial electrical, gas piping, plumbing, mechanical, re-roof, or multi-trade permits.
Build a detached structure or deck Guide and forms to build a deck, shed, solar array, retaining wall, swimming pool, or other accessory structure on a residential property
Build a new house, duplex, townhome or modular home Links to all of the forms you may need to build a new house
Check whether your address is within city limits Search to see if it is within the City of Asheville's permitting jurisdiction.
City of Asheville issues protocols for inspections during State of Emergency Posted on March 30, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville is modifying its operations until further notice to protect residents and City staff while minimizing the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The Development Services Department (DSD) requests that contractors maintain a clean and safe environment for City staff so we may continue to provide inspection services. Please follow CDC guidelines (
City of Asheville eases restrictions on food trucks and temporary signage Posted on March 26, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville is taking steps to increase access to safe dining options during the course of this COVID-19 public health emergency. To do so, on March 24, Mayor Esther Manheimer amended the City’s State of Emergency declaration to exempt food trucks and restaurants from certain portions of the City’s Unified Development Ordinance. These [...]
2020 City of Asheville initiatives: What to look for in the new year Posted on December 31, 2019January 8, 2020 by Polly McDaniel With a new year comes new programs, facility improvements and projects to improve our community. Here’s a look ahead at 10 Asheville City government initiatives as we ring in not only a new year, but a new decade in 2020. Civic Center gets Harrah’s Cherokee name The year 2020 will start with excitement for the newly named Harrah’s Cherokee Center — [...]