DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County commissioners are set to discuss a new noise ordinance that would change what levels are allowed and when.
But the new restrictions could be hard to enforce.
In the Leafmore neighborhood, it’s easy to find leaf blowers.
But DeKalb’s new sound ordinance would restrict any daytime sounds to 65 decibels, or just louder than a normal speaking voice.
So that would basically ban all gas-powered leaf blowers, mowers and trimmers, making homeowners and landscapers rely on quieter electric equipment.
DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry, who authored the proposal, told Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach that they’ve been talking about changes for more than two years.
“The goal here is to help preserve the peace and quiet of our neighborhoods, at the same time create some regulations that actually can be enforced,” Terry said.
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Terry said going from the current “plainly audible” observation to actual sound level readings would require equipping all DeKalb police and code enforcement officers with decibel meters.
“If you give someone a code violation, how do you prove it? Is plainly audible subjective? Can it be challenged?” Terry said.
Rob Schlitz uses his small gas-powered backpack blower on his few landscaping jobs, and even if quieter, doesn’t like the idea of dealing with cords or batteries.
“I think it’s nonsense,” Schlitz said. “It’s just not as strong. They won’t last as long. The durability’s just not there. And the charging stations and all that.”
The noise ordinance is on the agenda for Tuesday’s County Commission meeting, but they’re still waiting on a recommendation from the committee that could also end up amending some of the restrictions depending on day or night.
So a vote will likely get pushed back.
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