Memphis noise rules at a glance
- Governing code: Memphis Code of Ordinances, Chapter 9-68 (Noise Control)
- Quiet hours: 11:00 PM – 7:00 AM
- How violations are judged: Plainly-audible standard
- Complaints: 311
How Memphis decides what counts as too loud
Memphis works from an unreasonable-noise standard tied to disturbance of the quiet, comfort or repose of others, with the overnight window running from 11:00 PM.
Noise limits in Memphis
| Applies to | Daytime | Night |
|---|---|---|
| General | Unreasonably loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise is prohibited at any time | Judged particularly strictly between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM |
What's specific to Memphis
- There is no residential decibel table in Chapter 9-68 — the standard is disturbance, and the ordinance says so.
- The chapter draws authority from the city charter and from state law on excessive vehicle noise, so vehicle complaints may be handled under state provisions.
- The 11:00 PM start to the overnight window is later than the 10:00 PM common elsewhere.
What Memphis residents most often report
- Late-night amplified music and parties inside the 11:00 PM – 7:00 AM window.
- Vehicle noise, which may be pursued under state excessive-noise provisions.
- Commercial premises disturbing adjacent residential blocks.
How to measure it in Memphis
Document the pattern rather than the peak. Memphis asks whether noise disturbed the quiet, comfort or repose of others, particularly between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM, and the way to answer that is a series of timestamped sessions across several nights showing the noise recurring and how long it lasted. A decibel figure supports the account; it is not itself the test.
Record levels with the free online decibel meter, and log the date, start time and duration with each reading. A phone microphone is accurate to roughly ±2 dB and is not a calibrated instrument — enough to establish a pattern, not enough for an enforcement hearing.
Turn your readings into something you can file
311 will ask when the noise happens and how long it lasts. A live decibel reading answers neither. Pro records a timestamped session — a ten-minute check or a full night — charts the whole thing, and exports a PDF with the dates, times, duration and the statistics that describe a pattern rather than a moment.
- Timestamped sessions with the recording timezone
- Leq and L10/L50/L90 background levels
- Print-ready PDF report, one click
- Your last 25 sessions, kept on your device
Measurements stay on your device on the subscription plans. A phone microphone is not a calibrated instrument — a session establishes a pattern, and this page is not legal advice.
How to file a noise complaint in Memphis
Memphis 311 takes noise reports; police handle parties and immediate disturbances under the general provisions.
Sources
Municipal codes are amended regularly and enforcement practice varies by neighbourhood and agency. This page summarises the code as of 2026-08-10 and is not legal advice — confirm against the linked code before relying on any figure, and consult a lawyer for a dispute.
Noise ordinances in other metros
See all US metro noise ordinances or read how many decibels is too loud.