Seminole enacts new, stricter noise ordinance

Seminole County on Tuesday enacted a new noise ordinance with strict regulations that officials hope will quell loud music, rein in noisy venues and give residents in neighborhoods near commercial areas some peace and quiet.

“I love what’s going on here, and I’m totally in support of this ordinance,” said Jonas Pearson to commissioners before the board unanimously approved the new ordinance. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Pearson is among dozens of residents of a south Seminole neighborhood who have long complained about loud music and outdoor celebrations coming from a nearby church mostly on weekend mornings.

According to the ordinance, a property owner would be in violation if noise exceeds 60 decibels – about as loud as conversations in a restaurant – for more than one minute between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. or 55 decibels for one minute between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Chronic violators could be fined up to $500 per day or spend 60 days in jail. Seminole’s new regulations mirror similar noise rules in Orange County and several Central Florida municipalities.

The ordinance makes exceptions for ice cream trucks, construction equipment, trains and aircraft. State laws regulate noise – such as music from loudspeakers - coming from motor vehicles on roadways.

As a growing number of residents complained last year about noisy neighbors and racket emanating from commercial areas near their homes, Seminole officials realized that the county’s old noise ordinance — first written in 1974 and last updated in 1992 —