THOMASVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE – SOUND ORDINANCE

Section 11-11 Creation of loud or unnecessary noise prohibited.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any other noise which either disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of other persons within the city. This prohibition shall include, but is not limited to, the playing of portable radios or recording playback devices and the playing of radios and recording playback devices in automobiles, trucks, and other motor vehicles, as set out more particularly in subsection (d).

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to disturb, tend to disturb or aid in disturbing the peace of others, or endanger the comfort, repose, health, or safety of others by violent, offensive, or obstreperous conduct, and no person shall knowingly permit such conduct upon any premises owned or possessed by any person or under that person’s control.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to yell, shout, or sing on the public streets of the city, particularly between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or at any other time or place so as to disturb the quiet, comfort, repose, health, or peace of persons in any office, or in any dwelling, hotel, or other type of residence or other place of abode, or in any church or other place of worship, or of persons in the vicinity.

(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to use, operate, or permit to be played, used or operated any radio or television receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph or other recording playback machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such a manner as to disturb the quiet, comfort, repose, health, or peace of the neighboring inhabitants or at any time with louder volume than is necessary for the convenient hearing of the person who is in the room, vehicle or immediate vicinity in which such machine or device is operated and who is a voluntary listener thereto.

(e) The city council delegates to the city manager the authority to permit outdoor functions and activities which are nontraditional, such as street dances, parking lot dances, and promotions, and similar activities and which might tend to produce high noise levels by way of amplified music or other sources. The intent of this subsection is to allow such activities under controlled conditions and where appropriate steps have been taken to reduce the likelihood of annoying or disturbing the peace and comfort of persons in the immediate vicinity of the proposed activity. This subsection is not intended to address or control traditional outdoor activities such as ballgames, picnics, church related, and civic gatherings. The decision of whether to permit an activity covered by this section shall be that of the city manager under such terms and conditions as he deems necessary to meet the intent of this section.

(Ord. of 7-1-88, § I; Ord. of 8-22-88(2), § I)

THOMASVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE – EVENTS ON DESIGNATED CITY PROPERTY

Section 3-30 City Sponsored Events and Private Nonprofit Special Events on Designated City Property.

b) A Private Nonprofit Special Event on Designated City Property (“Nonprofit Special Event”) as defined in Section 3-1 of this Chapter, may be held on City property, including rights-of-way, in a designated Nonprofit Special Event Area in the City’s Downtown Business District and as determined by the City Manager. Participants in such a Nonprofit Special Event shall be authorized to possess and consume alcoholic beverages in the Nonprofit Special Event Area. Such Nonprofit Special Events shall not be open to the general public and shall be attended on the basis of written invitation, pass or ticket only. All such Nonprofit Special Events shall be subject to Section 3-29 (a) of this Chapter and Part B of the Requirements for Special Events Allowing Alcoholic Beverage Consumption on City Property and Rights-of-Way in the City of Thomasville Downtown Business District as established by the City Manager, a copy of which is on file with and may be obtained from the City Manager’s office, the City Clerk’s office, and the Thomasville Main Street Office. The requirements contemplated herein may be modified from time to time by the City Manager in the sole discretion of the City Manager.

c) An alcohol beverage licensee located in the Downtown Business District which holds a current City of Thomasville alcoholic beverage consumption-on-premises license but which is not participating in a City Special Event shall be permitted to sell and serve alcoholic beverages while such an event is taking place, but patrons of any such establishment shall not be allowed to carry or consume alcoholic beverages purchased from any such establishment outside of the establishment.

d) Entities selling and persons consuming alcoholic beverages in the City’s Downtown Business District under any provision of this Section 3-30 shall obey all state laws and City ordinances, especially including, but not limited to, laws and ordinances pertaining to the sale of alcoholic beverages to or the consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage persons.

Guidelines for Special Events Allowing Alcohol Beverage Consumption on Public Right-of-Way in the City of Thomasville Downtown Business District (Part B):

A. Private Non-Profit Special Events Held in the Downtown Business District:

a. Authorization to hold a Private Non-Profit Special Event on public right-of-way in the Downtown Business District must be obtained from the City Council no later than four (4) weeks prior to the event;

b. The permit application must have clearly defined boundaries where alcohol is to be consumed on public right-of-way within the Downtown Business District that must be approved by the City Manager;

c. Private Special Events organized by Non-Profit Organizations wishing to serve alcohol beverages on public right-of-way in the Downtown Business District must obtain the appropriate state and local permits prior to the event;

d. Alcoholic beverage consumption and possession of authorized open containers on public right-of-way during Private Non-Profit Special Events will begin no sooner than 6 pm and end no later than 10 pm on the day of the event;

e. The applicant will be limited to no more than two (2) permits annually;

f. Alcoholic beverages will be limited to beer and wine;

g. Participation will require the Alcohol Beverage License Holder to dispense beer or wine in authorized cups;

h. Wrist Bands (supplied by the Main Street Office) must be worn by anyone consuming alcoholic beverages on the public right-of-way within the designated area;

i. Security, provided by the Thomasville Police Department, will be required and will monitor the special event for compliance with this policy and all City ordinances; Final determination as to the number of officers required for an event will be at the discretion of the Thomasville Chief of Police or his designee. Cost for security services will be billed by the City of Thomasville for each officer at a pre-determined rate for each officer;

j. No alcoholic beverages dispensed/purchased within the designated area at Private Non-Profit Special Events shall be allowed to leave or be consumed outside of the designated area;

k. No alcoholic beverages purchased from outside of the Private Non-Profit Special Event area shall be allowed within the designated area during the event;

l. Drinking or attempting to drink any alcoholic beverages from a can, bottle, or glass or to possess in an open can, bottle, or glass on the public right-of-way is prohibited;

m. Main Street staff will provide and place special event area signage that will clearly identify the approved designated area.