Anne Arundel County, MD Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 9-1-707
- Presumption trigger
- audible 50 feet from source
- Civil fine schedule
- $50 / $100 / $500
- Refusal penalty
- up to $500, 30 days jail
Summary
Anne Arundel County bans running a radio, TV, or amplified music at an unreasonably loud volume audible in a residential district at any time of day. Sound heard 50 feet from the source is presumed to violate the rule.
(c) Prohibitions. A person may not: (1) at any time use, operate, or permit the use or operation of a radio or other music producing device, a television, an amplified musical instrument, or any other audio producing device at an unreasonably loud volume that can be heard in a residential district; ... (d) Rebuttable presumption. There is a rebuttable presumption that sound generated by a device listed in subsection (c) that can be heard at a distance of 50 feet from the device constitutes a violation under this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-93: County Code is current through May, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under County Code § 9-1-707, a bar or nightclub may not use, operate, or permit the operation of a radio, television, amplified musical instrument, or other audio-producing device at an unreasonably loud volume that can be heard in a residential district: this ban applies around the clock, not just at night. If the sound can be heard from 50 feet away, the code presumes a violation without any decibel measurement. County Police can cite the offense as a Class E civil offense on the spot, no warning required, and anyone who keeps the noise going after an officer orders it stopped is guilty of a separate misdemeanor.
Violations & Fines
Class E civil fine: $50 first offense, $100 second, $500 third or later. Refusing a police order to stop the noise is a separate misdemeanor, up to $500 and 30 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the noise ban only apply late at night?
Do neighbors need a decibel reading to prove a violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anne Arundel County
Compare Anne Arundel County to another location·View the Maryland noise from specific sources overview
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