While a wedding, reception, or party held outside can be a great experience, the amplified music, loud voices, and other venue noise can be extremely disturbing to area residents. Protecting homes from venue noise can be especially challenging in a rural setting where venue noise may have a severe effect on those living within several thousand feet and may be heard more than two miles distant. Excessive noise can affect the medical and psychological health of others, especially if venue noise events are frequent and extend into the night. If you are concerned about venue noise from an existing or proposed facility then read on for advice or, if you need immediate assistance, contact CEDS at 410-654-3021 or Help@ceds.org. 

Events where amplified music and loud voices are likely should be held within buildings designed to minimize external sound transmission. For the reasons provided in this webpage, events held outside – frequently in a tent – should be at least 2,000 feet from the nearest home if amplified music and loud voices are likely. Similarly, the noise from slamming car doors can be equal to that of amplified music though the duration is much shorter. Nevertheless, parking areas should also be far from homes. Ending an event before most people turn in for sleep, say by 9 p.m., is also helpful. Trees and earth berms alone may not be sufficient to protect area residents from excessive noise as explained below in the section on Measures To Reduce Disturbing Noise.

In addition to health effects, venue noise events may create views that nearby residents find objectionable such as that of portable toilets, food rucks, dumpsters, etc. Crowds of people near a home may be upsetting. These issues could be resolved with good visual buffering like that recommended in the CEDS Scenic Views & Land Development: Preserving Views from Your home & Other Favorite Places webpage.

Health Effects of Venue Noise

Though an occasional incident of wedding venue noise may not have a significant health impact, if it is part of more frequent noise from other sources then more serious health impacts may result. For example, one Maryland county allows up to 25 events per year at rural venue areas.

In addition to hearing loss and tinnitus, persistent noise pollution can cause or worsen hypertension, type 2 diabetes, anxiety, depression, and many other health conditions. Low frequency noise, like bass music, can be more disturbing since it can pass more easily through closed windows and walls.  A review of scientific literature noted that the human health effects of low-frequency noise include sleep disorders, discomfort, sensitivity to and irritability from noise, annoyance, hearing loss, and cardiovascular diseases. 

When Does Venue Noise Become Disturbing?

Noise is measured in decibels (dB). The chart below compares noise levels from a variety of sources. A conversation becomes difficult when noise from other sources exceeds 55 dB. Learning in a school room and sleep at home is hindered at 45 dBA or higher.

A number of towns, cities, and counties limit noise affecting residential area to 65 decibels (dB) during the day and 55 dB at night. Many jurisdictions exempt noise from construction, highways, and even amplified music from these limits. Experience with data centers has prompted local governments to reset residential noise protection limits to 45 dBA during the day and 40 dBA at night. We can detect an increase in sound of 3 dB or more. A ten decibel increase will sound twice as loud to us. 

How Venue Noise Diminishes With Distance

As illustrated in the graph below, noise decreases 6 dB for every doubling of distance from a source. If at 50 feet a noise source is emitting 85 dB it would be 6 dB lower or:

• 79 dB at 100 feet, then
• 73 dB at 200 feet, then
• 67 dB at 400 feet and so on.

Venue Noise Survey of Those Living Near Existing Facilities

One of the best ways to learn if your local government regulates wedding venue noise in ways that allow guests to have a good experience while safeguarding quality of life for area residents is to talk with those living near existing venues. CEDS did such a survey in our home state of Maryland and found that those living within 2,000 feet had experienced loud music and voices that they found very disturbing. Venue noise was also heard by others as far as 2.5 miles away. But conditions can be quite different in your state and local area so consider doing your own survey. Contact CEDS for advice on how to conduct a survey.

Measures To Reduce Disturbing Venue Noise

There are a number of noise reduction measures that can be taken at a noise source, between the source and a home as well as on the exterior or inside of a home.

Trees & Other Vegetation

As shown in the following graphic, a 5 to 8 dB decrease can be achieved for each 100 feet of densely growing evergreens and shrubs between a noise source and a home though the effect may diminish after trees shed leaves.

If 100 feet of forest separates the 90 dB wedding venue noise from a home, the noise level will be in the mid to low-80 dB range at the home, which is far in excess of the 40 dBA acceptable level recommended by CEDS.

Earth Berms & Walls

Earth berms and walls are sometimes used to reduce noise from highways and other sources. They can reduce noise by 7- to 10-dB.

As shown in the next graphic, these measures only work in the area of the noise shadow created by the berm or wall. In other words, if a berm or wall does not obstruct your view of a noise source then it may do little to keep your home quiet.

Low Frequency Noise

The graphic below shows the two scales commonly used to measure noise levels: A-weighted and C-weighted scales. While the A-weighted scale measures sound the way we perceive it, the C-weighted scale captures low-frequency sound too, like that of bass music. Another very important difference is that low-frequency (bass music) penetrates walls and windows to a far greater extent than noise detected with the A-weighted scale. For example, think back to the last time a driver was near, and you heard bass music thumping from inside their car even though their windows and yours were rolled up.

A number of acoustic engineers and other noise experts are now recommending the following limits on noise affecting homes and other residential areas. These limits must not be exceeded at residential property lines.

Venue Noise Impact Study

There are a number of factors that can affect wedding venue noise levels reaching nearby homes and other residential areas. Noise added to relatively quiet areas like rural country sides can be more disturbing then in urban-suburban locations. Similarly, a venue located next to a busy highway will seem to have less of an effect on noise levels compared to one in a rural area.

If it is claimed that a proposed venue will employ measures that can meet the limits recommended above, the claim must be supported by a noise impact study conducted by a qualified professional. If you wish CEDS can arrange for an independent expert to verify that you and your neighbors will not be harmed if all proposed mitigation measures are fully employed and maintained. However, the noise experts in the CEDS network may change a fee of $1,000 or more for the review.