New Gulf Shores noise ordinance clarifies acceptable decibel levels

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - The Gulf Shores Police Department will soon be armed with new, state-of-the-art decibel monitors to help cut back on excessive noise around town. In an update to the city’s noise ordinance, there are now specified maximum allowed noise levels for various days of the week and times of day.

Lieutenant Josh Gulledge is testing out brand new decibel meters for the Gulf Shores Police Department. The department now has three high-quality meters patrol officers will be trained to use to combat noise pollution. Knowing the average ambient noise level was a key component of the new guidelines in the city’s amended ordinance.

“We wanted to get a good foundation of what the noise is, what the ambient noise is here in town if you’re in a high traffic area or in a quiet neighborhood,” Gulf Shores Police Chief, Dan Netemeyer said. “You always have that noise out there and it’s always reading.”

Until now, Gulf Shores Police officers have had a hard time enforcing noise regulations because there were no specific guidelines. What seemed in excess to one person might not seem so to the next, leaving the law subject to interpretation.

“If somebody in their house felt that something was unreasonable and the an officer came and that officer says, I don’t feel it’s unreasonable and then another officer comes and they think it…we just took the…we put a number on what reasonable is,” Netemeyer explained.

After getting baseline readings, the allowable decibel levels are now official. In residential areas between 10 pm and 8 am Monday - Thursday and Friday - Saturday between 11 pm and 9 am, outdoor readings must be 50 DB or less and noise projected from inside at 35 DB or less. The same time frame at commercial venues allows for an increase of 5 decibels. As for daytime hours, an increase of 15 decibels is allowed residentially and 20 decibels for commercial venues.

Several businesses who offer live music said they’re not opposed to the new ordinance since it offers clarity but didn’t want to go on the record. Some residents agree, saying it’s good to have definitive guidelines.

“I think subjectivity in any law is not good,” said Cecelia Aguerrevere. “I mean, it needs to be clear cut, so for one person it’s not too loud. For the next person, it’s killing them so, I think it’s good.”

Netemeyer said the intent is not to search out noise violators and start writing tickets. Instead, the new ordinance and decibel meters will be used to cut through any doubt when there are noise complaints.