By Patricia Lee – Owner: www.Destinites.com
The following community concern was posted by a local in our Destinites Facebook group (www.Facebook.com/groups/Destinites).
City of Destin residents! Do you like to play music in your backyard? Having a cookout with music? Enjoy your pool with music in the background? I’m wondering how many of you like to do that. I know I do! If you haven’t heard, the City of Destin has banned any sound traveling to neighbors’ yards. Here are some of the ordinance rules causing concern:
- Plainly Audible Standard – Instead of using decibel meters, the ordinance now considers noise violations based on whether noise is plainly audible beyond the adjacent property boundary or zoning setback line.
- Noise Times and Zones: Non-residential properties next to residential zones. 10 p.m. – 6 a.m.: Plainly audible sound is prohibited across residential setbacks. 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.: No plainly audible noise beyond 300 feet.
- Quiet hours typically run from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., consistent with county-wide standards.
***You can consult the City of Destin’s official code compliance pages or municipal code library to view the full ordinance text (Chapter 14, Article II).
Below are some responses to this post by our Destinites members: 1. I love peace and quiet at home. 2. Reminds me of the tree ordinance that was passed several years ago. It had to be retracted, because the people rose up against it. I think there should be times, but not telling people they can’t play the radio in their back yard. 3. So, I guess they’re gonna make the bands on the harbor shut down, because you can hear them at my house and I live off Legion and what about the fireworks? It doesn’t bother me, but if they are going to put a law to fact that everybody should have to listen, what about the boom boxes in the car driving up and down our road till all hours of the evening? What’s gonna be done about that? This is crazy if it bothers your neighbor you should respect and turn down, but the city to make an ordinance that you can’t play your music during the day is ridiculous. We need a re-hearing, because I will definitely be there. I’ve complained about the water draining in my backyard during storms, the speed bumps that need to be put on our road, and they still have yet to do anything about that. But, they can vote on playing music. 4. People abuse their privileges and then whine when they are taken away. I can hear a neighbor’s music and they live on another street from me. They are about a block and 1/2 away. I’ve never reported them, but I’m not sorry that they have to be considerate, now.
5. Yappy, barking dogs continuously should be included.
- Omg, I just hired a local band to play for my ladies’ 40th party. Not sure what to do now; lame. I mean no more wedding parties either, I suppose.
7. I have contacted the governor and senate to see what they say about this. If they really have the right to do this and if this is not against our constitution.If you are a Destin resident or in the close surrounding area, I invite you to join our private, targeted group for locals and property owners at Facebook.com/groups/Destiniteswith 11,900+ members (Est. Oct. 2018). Check out our local business directory at Destinites.com where 400+ local businesses are already listed and enjoy advertising in our targeted group.
