Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in Richardson must comply with the general noise ordinance at receiving property lines and with any conditions in their zoning or specific-use permit. Amplified outdoor sound is tightly regulated in mixed-use areas.
Richardson's commercial establishments including bars, restaurants, and venues with live music must keep noise within ordinance dBA limits measured at the receiving (nearest residential) property line. Interior amplified sound must be contained by the building envelope, and outdoor patios or beer gardens are often conditioned on specific-use permits restricting hours and amplification. In mixed-use districts adjacent to residential such as areas near Main Street and the CoreDistrict, evening limits typically drop after 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. Violations can result in citations, revocation of specific-use permits, and TABC referrals for repeat offenders. Live music venues should submit a sound management plan and use limiters on outdoor speakers. Residents may file complaints with Richardson Police or Code Enforcement. Heavy-bass performance often transmits through building walls even when compliant at the decibel meter, so many venues use isolation platforms and acoustic treatments.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Richardson code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Richardson, TX
Under Sec. 5-9(6), it is unlawful to allow an animal to unreasonably bark, howl, crow, or make other loud noise unprovoked for at least 15 minutes or in spor...
Richardson, TX
Richardson Code Ch. 13, Art. III, Div. 2 prohibits unreasonably loud noise at all hours. Sec. 13-72 makes it unlawful to create noise offensive to ordinary s...
Richardson, TX
Under Sec. 13-75(9), construction noise near residential areas is unrestricted 7 AM to 6 PM weekdays. Before 7 AM, after 6 PM, and on weekends, construction ...
Richardson, TX
Junked vehicles that are wrecked, dismantled, or inoperable without current registration or safety inspection may not be kept in public view. Richardson Code...
Richardson, TX
Richardson regulates commercial vehicle parking in residential areas through its zoning ordinance and Code Enforcement. Oversized commercial vehicles and pro...
Richardson, TX
Richardson does not recognize 'dibs' or reserved parking on public streets. Residents may not block public parking spaces with cones, chairs, or other items,...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Dallas County.
See how other cities in Dallas County handle bar & nightclub noise.
See how Richardson's bar & nightclub noise rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.