Nashville May Quiet Construction Noise In Residential Neighborhoods

Nashville officials want to quiet some of the noise in neighborhoods.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the Metro Council advanced a proposal to limit the loudest construction noise in residential zoning areas. Think hammers smashing away at walls, or bulldozers revving while pushing dirt mounds.

Inglewood Councilmember Emily Benedict says she wants to restrict the hours of work, but is aware of concerns about worker safety in the hot summer. So she’s proposing that for most of the year the noise level of demolition and bulldozers be capped at 70 decibels from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The rule would be more lenient during June, July and August, stopping loud construction only from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

“My main goal was to make daily life better for our neighbors,” she says. “I also understand the city’s need for additional housing.”

Benedict says she believes her bill strikes a balance and would bring Nashville up to speed with neighboring Brentwood as well as Chattanooga and Atlanta.

The bill is on track to be voted on at the Metro Council’s final meeting of the year Dec. 15.

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the criteria of the proposed noise limits during the summer months. More lenient rules would apply during June, July and August, not just days on which the temperature is over 90 degrees, and loud construction would end at 8 p.m., not 9 p.m.