On Monday night, The Charlotte City Council unanimously passed a new noise ordinance after city residents started to complain about the continuous noise associated with certain bars in Charlotte. The 'old' noise ordinance was over 25-years old. In the first draft of the revised noise ordinance, the city proposed several changes that had bar/club owners in an uproar. The council met them half way and the new ordinance bans outdoor music over 85 decibels on Friday and Saturday from 8 am - 11pm. After 11pm, the new ordinance states the noise must decrease to 60 decibels from 11 om- 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights. No outdoor music will be allowed between 2 am- 8am.
The city council will review the new ordinance in six months to see if the new ordinance is working. The punishment for a noise violation is a $1,000 fine against bars and restaurants that don't comply with the ordinance. For a second offense, a business could lose the right to have any outdoor music for 18 months. The changes will take effect between June 15th and August 1st, depending on the size of the venue.
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