The Brookhaven City Council approved an amended noise ordinance to redefine when daytime and nighttime hours are and at what sound levels are acceptable during these times.

Councilman Bates Mattison had expressed concern about how businesses that provide live entertainment might be affected, but during recent field tests with city police officers to record decibel levels he said he was comfortable with the noise ordinance.

“I went to some of our businesses that had complaints against them … [the field tests] gave me a lot of comfort in the ordinance proposed,” he said at the Jan. 12 work session.

Mattison said he went to Pure Taqueria and Haven, two local hotspots, at 5 p.m. on different days as loud music began playing to read sound meters with police officers. The music fell easily into acceptable decibel levels under the new ordinance, he said.

Daytime hours now defined by the city ordinance are between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Nighttime hours are 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and midnight to 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

A business could lose its liquor license if it violates the noise ordinance twice within six months or three times in a year, explained City Attorney Chris Balch.

A noise level chart helps explain how loud certain sounds are. For example, a lawn mower comes in at about 90 decibels while an air raid siren records at 135 decibels.

Acceptable noise levels during daytime and nighttime hours for the city of Brookhaven:

Also included in the revised ordinance:

Non-commercial or non-industrial tools used for landscaping and yard maintenance shall not be operated between the hours 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. or on Saturday or Sunday before 9 a.m.