Brevard County, FL Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Commercial daytime limit
- 65 dBA / 70 dBC
- Commercial nighttime limit
- 55 dBA / 60 dBC
- Loudspeaker advertising
- banned to attract business attention
- Applies only in
- unincorporated Brevard County
- Enforcement path
- warning, then special magistrate
Summary
Bars and nightclubs in unincorporated Brevard County can't blast music outward to attract customers, and their sound systems don't get the county's usual equipment noise exemption: commercial-property sound must stay at or below 55-65 dBA at the property line.
The intentional projection, creating, making, or maintaining of any noise from any drum, cymbals, music, loudspeaker, or other instrument or device onto adjoining or neighboring properties for the purpose of attracting attention by creation of noise to any business, location, performance, show, event, sale, or display of merchandise, or place of business, except for activities permitted during a special event.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 46-130(6) bans intentionally projecting music, drums, cymbals, or loudspeaker sound onto neighboring property to attract attention to a bar, show, performance, or place of business, except during a permitted special event. Section 46-129(19) reinforces this by excluding "equipment that broadcasts sound or noise from a business conducting entertainment activities" from the general necessary-business-equipment exemption, so a nightclub's sound system gets no pass. Section 46-131 caps commercial/institutional sound at the real property boundary at 65 dBA (70 dBC) during daytime hours and 55 dBA (60 dBC) from 10:01 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. This governs only unincorporated Brevard; Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, and other cities enforce their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Enforcement officers issue a written warning first; failure to comply or a repeat violation goes to the code enforcement special magistrate under § 46-135, with fines under § 1-7 and an order requiring 30 consecutive noise-free days before compliance is found.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bar in unincorporated Brevard play music loud enough to be heard next door at night?
Does the county's business-equipment noise exemption cover a nightclub's sound system?
Does this ordinance apply to a bar in Cocoa Beach or Melbourne?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brevard County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Brevard County to another location·View the Florida noise from specific sources overview
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