Mount Vernon, NY Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Sound limit
- 95 db(A) for more than 30 seconds
- Covered venues
- Restaurant, bar, cafe, discotheque, dance hall
- Measurement point
- Location of the spectators inside the venue
- Enforcing agency
- City of Mount Vernon Police Department
- Maximum penalty
- $1,000 fine or 15 days jail, per night
Summary
Mount Vernon bans any restaurant, bar, cafe, discotheque or dance hall from running sound at or above 95 db(A) for more than 30 seconds at the spot where patrons sit, under § 178-4.12 of the Noise Control Ordinance. The limit is measured at the location of the spectators, not at the property line, making it enforceable from inside the venue itself.
No person shall operate or permit to be operated a place of public entertainment, including but not limited to a restaurant, bar, cafe, discotheque or dance hall, in which the sound level is equal to or exceeds 95 db(A) for more than 30 seconds at the location of the spectators.
Full Breakdown
12 provides that no person shall operate or permit to be operated a place of public entertainment, including but not limited to a restaurant, bar, cafe, discotheque or dance hall, in which the sound level is equal to or exceeds 95 db(A) for more than 30 seconds at the location of the spectators. 14, this section measures noise where patrons are actually seated or standing rather than at a property or district boundary, so a DJ booth or live band pushed past 95 db(A) for half a minute or more is a violation even if the sound never crosses onto a neighboring lot.
13 requires the City to keep current with updated federal and state noise standards. 17, which can order a cease-and-desist and, with a judicial order, seal amplification equipment causing the violation. 15, which requires an application to the City Clerk showing that additional time is needed to bring the venue into compliance, that no reasonable alternative exists, and that the noise source will be temporary.
Violations & Fines
Operating a restaurant, bar or nightclub above the 95 db(A), thirty-second threshold violates § 178-4.12 and is punishable under § 178-4.18 by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to 15 days, or both. Each night the venue exceeds the limit is a separate offense, so repeat violations at the same location compound quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can a bar's music be in Mount Vernon?
Can a nightclub get a permit to run louder?
What is the penalty for a bar that keeps exceeding the noise limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mount Vernon
New York rules heatmap·Compare Mount Vernon to another location·View the New York noise from specific sources overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Bar & Nightclub Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Westchester County handle bar & nightclub noise.