Riverside County, CA Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew
- 10 p.m.–8 a.m., no amplified sound
- Daytime limit
- Not audible past 200 feet
- First fine
- $500 minimum
- Repeat offense
- Misdemeanor, up to 6 months jail
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Bars and venues in unincorporated Riverside County must silence sound-amplifying equipment and live music by 10 p.m. and keep it under 200 feet audible otherwise.
Sound-Amplifying Equipment and Live Music. No person shall install, use or operate sound-amplifying equipment, or perform, or allow to be performed, live music unless such activities comply with the following requirements... 1. Sound-amplifying equipment or live music is prohibited between the hours of ten p.m. and eight a.m. 2. Sound emanating from sound-amplifying equipment or live music at any other time shall not be audible to the human ear at a distance greater than two hundred (200) feet from the equipment or music.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 84 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Riverside County Code § 9.52.060.D bans sound-amplifying equipment and live music entirely between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. at any occupied property in the unincorporated county. Outside those hours, the sound cannot be audible to the human ear more than 200 feet from the speakers or performers. These rules apply on top of the general Table 1 decibel limits and control over any conflicting land use permit condition. This governs only unincorporated areas: incorporated cities like Riverside, Temecula, Palm Springs and Indio enforce their own municipal noise codes.
Violations & Fines
A first violation within 180 days is an infraction carrying a mandatory minimum $500 fine; a second is $750; a third or later becomes a misdemeanor with a $1,000 minimum fine or up to six months in county jail, or both. Each day of continued violation is a separate offense, enforced by the sheriff and code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bar in unincorporated Riverside County play live music after 10 p.m.?
Does this cover bars inside cities like Riverside or Temecula?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California noise from specific sources overview
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