Revised Noise Ordinance Happening Now In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and community feedback on the recent ordinance proposal, city staff recommend the following next steps: Delay the ordinance effective date; Continue to transition current noise ordinance administration away from APD to Development Services (DSD) to address present noise concerns under the current ordinance. APD will continue responding to calls for service as staffing allows. Move forward with hiring and training the Noise Control administration position as part of the “Reimagining Public Safety” initiative; and Continue to coordinate in 2021 with ordinance stakeholders to build additional consensus around key ordinance measures. Staff will provide a project update to City Council on June 22, 2021 at 5:00 pm. 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 began to engage 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, 2019 4 p.m. Public Works Building, Room A-109 Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods small group meeting March 26, 2019 9 a.m. Public Works Building, Room A-109 Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods monthly meeting April 8, 2019 4 p.m. First Baptist Church, 5 Oak Street Downtown Asheville Residents monthly meeting April 18, 2019 2 p.m. City Bakery, 60 Biltmore Avenue Neighborhood Advisory Committee monthly meeting April 22, 2019 6:30 p.m. City Hall, First Floor Conference Room Neighborhood Association small group facilitated content meeting May 6, 2019 4 p.m. Public Works Building, Room A-109 Residents Noise Ordinance Forum May 16, 2019 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center Neighborhood Issues Forum August 3, 2019 10:00 am Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center South Slope Neighborhood monthly meeting January 28, 2021 4:00 pm Online meeting hosted by SSNA Business Outreach Date/Time Location Asheville Independent Restaurants monthly meeting April 3, 2019 9 a.m. 27 College Place Asheville Downtown Association monthly meeting April 10, 2019 12 p.m. The Grove Arcade Conference Room Charlotte Street Business Association monthly meeting April 23, 2019 8 am. Taco Temple, 132 Charlotte Street Eagle/Market Street Business Association monthly meeting April 24, 2019 2 p.m. The Block Off Biltmore, 39 S. Market Street West Asheville Business Association monthly meeting April 25, 2019 8:30 a.m. Isis Music Hall, 743 Haywood Road River Arts District Business Association April 30, 2019 4 p.m. FLS Energy, 130 Roberts Street Asheville Independent Restaurants membership meeting April 9, 2019 9 a.m. 27 College Place Buskers group meeting May 14, 2019 8:30 a.m. Public Works, Room A109 Business Noise Ordinance Forum May 15, 2019 8:30 a.m. Chamber of Commerce, 2nd Floor Conference Room Asheville Music Professionals (AMP) June 13, 2019 10:00 a.m. Public Works, Development Services Conference Rm Asheville Music Professionals (AMP) December 9, 2020 5:00 p.m. Online Zoom meeting hosted by AMP Asheville Brewers Alliance (ABA) December 17, 2020 11:00 a.m. Online Zoom meeting hosted by ABA Asheville Independent Restaurants monthly meeting April 7, 2021 9:00 a.m. Online meeting hosted by AIR Industrial/Construction Outreach Date/Time Location Industrial/Construction Noise Ordinance Forum May 14, 2019 8 a.m. Public Works, Room A109 Mission Hospital Noise Ordinance meeting July 19, 2019 11 a.m. Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center Waste Hauler meeting December 11, 2019 9 a.m. Public Works, Room A109 Additional Meeting Date/Time Location Downtown Commission monthly meeting May 10, 2019 8:30 a.m. City Hall, First Floor Conference Room Public Safety Committee monthly meeting May 23, 2019 11:00 a.m. City Hall, First Floor Conference Room Public Safety Committee monthly meeting August 22, 2019 11:00 a.m. City Hall, First Floor Conference Room Noise Ordinance Update Meeting September 23, 2019 3:30 p.m. Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center Public Safety Committee monthly meeting December 17, 2019 1:30 p.m. City Hall, First Floor Conference Room Public Safety Committee monthly meeting January 26, 2021 11:00 a.m. Online meeting Public Safety Committee monthly meeting June 1, 2021 3:00 p.m. Online meeting Staff update to City Council June 22, 2021 5:00 p.m. Online and in-person meeting; details will be posted here 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 report. February 2020 (postponed due to Coronavirus/COVID-19) – City staff completed a draft noise ordinance proposal and prepared to posted it online for public review. Nov./Dec. 2020 – The proposed noise ordinance was posted for public comment between November 18 – Dec. 11, 2020. The proposed draft will be revised in 2021 to reflect this feedback. January 26, 2021 – Staff provided a project update and summary of public comment to the Public Safety Committee. June 1, 2021 – Staff provided a project update and summary of draft ordinance revisions to the Public Safety Committee at 3:00 pm at a remote meeting. June 22, 2021 – Staff will present a project update to City Council at 5:00 pm. Supporting Documents Proposed Noise Ordinance – summary of recommended changes (June 2021) Proposed Noise Ordinance Public Feedback Summary (January 2021) Proposed Noise Ordinance text (November 2020) Proposed Noise Ordinance frequently asked questions (November 2020) 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 Presentations and Notes Presentation – Noise Ordinance Update to the Public Safety Committee on 06/01/21 Presentation – Noise Ordinance Update to the Public Safety Committee on 01/26/21 Proposed Noise Ordinance update (November 2020) 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 Contact the team at noise@publicinput.com. 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 Revised Noise Ordinance News Proposed Noise Ordinance revisions get closer to vote with an update to Asheville City Council Posted on June 22, 2021June 23, 2021 by Polly McDaniel While the pandemic put a pause on the Noise Ordinance revisions it also allowed City staff to further engage Asheville’s music community and downtown residents and be part of the City’s Reimagining Public Safety conversation. And because this initiative began under a previous City Council, Development Services Director Ben Woody gave an update to the current [...] Asheville to waive some fees to help support local businesses during State of Emergency Posted on January 12, 2021 by Polly McDaniel To help reduce economic hardship posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Asheville will continue to waive or suspend collection of fees on a case-by-case basis. Asheville City Council approved this action during their Jan. 12 meeting. The fees that may be waived include temporary uses, outdoor dining, a-frame signage, push carts, and associated trade permits. Many [...] City of Asheville releases draft Noise Ordinance revisions, launches survey Posted on November 18, 2020November 30, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Update: The survey deadline has been extended to Dec. 11. The City of Asheville’s Noise Ordinance revisions are getting closer to Council consideration. But before staff brings them to Council, we want to bring them to you, our residents. Visit the City’s informational webpage about the Noise Ordinance to review the draft revisions [...] More Revised Noise Ordinance 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.
Proposed Noise Ordinance revisions get closer to vote with an update to Asheville City Council Posted on June 22, 2021June 23, 2021 by Polly McDaniel While the pandemic put a pause on the Noise Ordinance revisions it also allowed City staff to further engage Asheville’s music community and downtown residents and be part of the City’s Reimagining Public Safety conversation. And because this initiative began under a previous City Council, Development Services Director Ben Woody gave an update to the current [...]
Asheville to waive some fees to help support local businesses during State of Emergency Posted on January 12, 2021 by Polly McDaniel To help reduce economic hardship posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Asheville will continue to waive or suspend collection of fees on a case-by-case basis. Asheville City Council approved this action during their Jan. 12 meeting. The fees that may be waived include temporary uses, outdoor dining, a-frame signage, push carts, and associated trade permits. Many [...]
City of Asheville releases draft Noise Ordinance revisions, launches survey Posted on November 18, 2020November 30, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Update: The survey deadline has been extended to Dec. 11. The City of Asheville’s Noise Ordinance revisions are getting closer to Council consideration. But before staff brings them to Council, we want to bring them to you, our residents. Visit the City’s informational webpage about the Noise Ordinance to review the draft revisions [...]