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Dearborn officials say exterior loudspeakers not permitted; police, legal to review complaints about call to prayer
Summary
Residents raised repeated complaints about exterior loudspeakers broadcasting the Islamic call to prayer near homes and schools. Police said they are conducting decibel readings; city staff will check permitting and legal opinions about exterior amplified sound and enforcement of the 10 p.m.–7 a.m. restriction.
A series of public comments at the Oct. 21 Dearborn City Council meeting pressed the city to enforce its ordinance on exterior loudspeakers after residents said mosque calls to prayer have been broadcast repeatedly in neighborhoods and near schools.
Andrea Unger, a resident who spoke during the meeting's public comment period, said loud }calls had disrupted classrooms and private homes and asked the council to require immediate compliance. “Enforcement needs to require immediate compliance and the end of the use of loudspeakers for the call to prayer,” Unger said.
Council members and staff responded that the city is investigating. Commander Madhu Bazzi of the Dearborn Police Department told the council the department has taken sound readings at sites identified by callers and will report findings to the council. Bazzi said the department had met with local mosques to discuss noise after reports that readings sometimes approached the city decibel limit and that officers would begin citations if readings exceeded the ordinance.
Council President Paul Cerini said exterior speakers are not supposed to be allowed under the ordinance and asked staff to confirm who authorized any installations. City staff told the council the economic development department will investigate whether permits were issued for exterior speakers, and the city attorney will be asked to confirm the ordinance language and enforcement options. Cerini asked legal for a written referral to clarify whether any amplified exterior sound installations had been permitted and what time restrictions apply.
Police and council members clarified part of the ordinance that bars amplified sound between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.; Bazzi reported the department had found no violations during those overnight hours in recent checks. The chief and staff said their goal is compliance rather than punishment and that the city will pursue enforcement steps if readings show exceedances or if exterior speakers were installed without permits.
What happened next: Council members directed staff to provide a report to the council on the police decibel readings and to ask economic development and the legal department to search for permits or authorizations for exterior speakers and advise the council on enforcement options.
Why this matters: The question touches enforcement of a city ordinance, equal treatment of houses of worship, and how the city balances religious practice with neighborhood noise rules. The council did not change any ordinance at the meeting; it referred the permit and ordinance questions to staff and legal.
