Denver, CO Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime limit (7am-10pm)
- 55 dB(A) at residential line
- Nighttime limit (10pm-7am)
- 50 dB(A) at residential line
- Measured at
- Property line of receptor premises
- Enforced by
- Dept. of Public Health & Environment, Police
- Max penalty
- $999 fine, 300 days jail
Summary
Denver caps commercial noise, including from bars and nightclubs, at 55 dB(A) daytime and 50 dB(A) overnight where it crosses onto a residential property line.
It shall be unlawful for any person to emit or cause to be emitted any noise that leaves the premises on which it originates, crosses a property line, and enters onto any other premises in excess of the sound pressure levels permitted during the time periods specified in Table A. ... Commercial [source] ... Residential [receptor] 55 [7am-10pm] 50 [10pm-7am]
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Under DRMC § 36-6, it's unlawful for noise from any premises to cross a property line above the sound pressure levels in Table A. For a commercial source reaching a residential receptor, the limit is 55 dB(A) from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dB(A) from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., the standard that applies to a bar or nightclub's amplified music and crowd noise bleeding into nearby homes. The department of public health and environment and police measure sound with an A-weighted sound level meter at the property line under § 36-3.
Violations & Fines
Violations are criminal under § 1-13 unless otherwise designated, punishable by up to a $999 fine and up to 300 days in jail; each day of continuing violation is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can a Denver bar's music be at night?
Who enforces bar noise complaints in Denver?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
Compare Denver to another location·View the Colorado noise from specific sources overview
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