Portland, OR Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Night cutoff
- 10 p.m.-7 a.m., audible in dwelling
- Commercial-to-residential day limit
- 60 dBA at property line
- Commercial-to-residential night limit
- 55 dBA (5 dBA night reduction)
- Max civil penalty
- $5,000 per violation
- Enforcer
- Portland Permitting & Development / Police
Summary
Portland bars, taprooms, and nightclubs with amplified music must not cause a noise disturbance, and after 10 p.m. their sound cannot be plainly audible inside a nearby dwelling until 7 a.m.
Sound producing or reproducing equipment. Operating or permitting the use or operation of any device designed for sound production or reproduction in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance; or operating or permitting the operating or use of any such device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. so as to be plainly audible within any dwelling unit that is not the source of sound...
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 18.12 bans operating sound-producing or reproducing equipment in a way that causes a noise disturbance, and specifically bars running such equipment between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. so it is plainly audible inside any dwelling unit that isn't the source. Chapter 18.10 also caps sound crossing a property line by zone (60 dBA daytime from a commercial/mixed-use source into a residential zone, 55 dBA at night), so a bar's speakers or crowd noise reaching nearby homes can violate both provisions at once. Portland Permitting & Development and police enforce it.
Violations & Fines
Civil penalties up to $5,000 per separate violation under Section 18.18.030, with each incident and each day of noncompliance counted separately; the City Administrator weighs repeat offenses and cost of investigation when setting the fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bar's music be heard next door after 10 p.m.?
Is there a decibel limit for bars in commercial zones?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portland
Compare Portland to another location·View the Oregon noise from specific sources overview
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