Ann Arbor, MI Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Amplified sound curfew
- 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., citywide
- Commercial daytime limit
- 71 dB(A) at property line
- Commercial nighttime limit
- 61 dB(A) at property line
- First-offense fine
- $50 to $500 plus costs
- Governing section
- City Code § 9:363(6)
Summary
Ann Arbor bars and nightclubs cannot run amplified sound audible beyond the property line between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and daytime commercial noise is capped at 71 dB(A) under the city's noise ordinance.
It shall be unlawful for any person to create, assist in creating, permit, continue or permit the continuance of any unreasonably loud, disturbing, unusual or unnecessary noise which annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others within the limits of the City of Ann Arbor. ... (6)The operation or use between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of any loudspeaker, sound amplifier, public address system or similar device used to amplify sounds.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
Ann Arbor's noise ordinance bars any person from operating a loudspeaker, sound amplifier, public address system, or similar amplifying device between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. if the sound carries beyond the property line, per City Code § 9:363(6). The blanket prohibition on unreasonably loud or disturbing noise in § 9:362 covers a bar or nightclub's amplified music at any hour. Under the maximum sound level table in § 9:364, commercial property is additionally capped at 71 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 61 dB(A) overnight, measured at the property line. Washtenaw County has no separate noise code for the city.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 9:363 is a civil infraction: $50-$500 for a first offense, $100-$500 for a second within two years, and $200-$500 plus up to 240 hours community service for a third.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bar in Ann Arbor play amplified music after 10 p.m.?
What's the daytime noise limit for a commercial property like a bar?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ann Arbor
Compare Ann Arbor to another location·View the Michigan noise from specific sources overview
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