Long Beach, CA Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- 8-hour limit
- 85 dBA
- Quarter-hour ceiling
- 100 dBA
- Compliance alternative
- Post hearing-impairment warning sign
- Measurement point
- Location normally occupied by customer
- Max penalty
- $500 fine / 180 days jail
Summary
Long Beach caps sound in bars, nightclubs and other places of public entertainment on a sliding duration/decibel scale and requires a posted hearing-impairment warning sign wherever the venue exceeds those levels.
O.Places of public entertainment. Operating or permitting to be operated any loudspeaker or other source of sound in any place of public entertainment that exceeds the levels shown in Table D at any point normally occupied by a customer, without a conspicuous and legible sign stating "WARNING, SOUND LEVELS WITHIN MAY CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING IMPAIRMENT." Table D - Maximum Levels Allowed In Places Of Public Entertainment: Duration Per Day Continuous Hours / Noise Level dB(A): 8/85, 6/86, 4/88, 3/89, 2/91, 1 1/2/92, 1/94, 1/2/97, 1/4 or less/100.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
5 hours, 97 dBA at a half hour, and a ceiling of 100 dBA for a quarter hour or less. This lets a nightclub run louder for shorter continuous stretches as long as either the Table D cap is met or the warning sign is posted, the sign is a compliance option, not an add-on. 170), which still govern sound bleeding across a property line into a residential or noise-sensitive zone even when Table D is satisfied inside the venue.
Violations & Fines
Operating without the required warning sign while exceeding Table D levels is chargeable as a misdemeanor under § 8.80.380 once the Noise Control Officer documents the violation and the venue fails to comply with an abatement order: up to $500 in fines, up to 180 days in jail, or both, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can a Long Beach nightclub play music?
What does the warning sign requirement say exactly?
Does staying under Table D mean the bar can't be cited for noise?
What's the penalty for an unposted, over-limit nightclub?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California noise from specific sources overview
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How other cities in Los Angeles County handle bar & nightclub noise.