Sarasota, FL Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard hours
- 65 dBA/70 dBC after 10 p.m.
- Lemon Ave Mall
- Curfew pushed to 11-11:59 p.m.
- Measured
- At the property line
- First fine
- $250 uncontested
Summary
City of Sarasota rules require outdoor amplified sound at bars and clubs to stay under 65 dBA/70 dBC after 10 p.m., with even tighter late-night curfews for the city's Lemon Avenue Mall entertainment district.
Amplified sound not in a completely enclosed building. Section 20-5(b)(2) of this Code notwithstanding:a.No person shall make, cause, allow or permit the operation of any amplified sound, not in a completely enclosed building between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following morning, in such a manner as to create...a sound level that exceeds sixty-five (65) dBA, seventy (70) dBC or has a five (5) dB or greater difference between the dBA and dBC sound levels.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33 | Zoning: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 20-5(b)(1)a of the City of Sarasota Code caps amplified sound played outside a fully enclosed building at 65 dBA, 70 dBC, or a 5 dB dBA/dBC spread, measured at the property line, between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., the standard that governs a bar or nightclub's outdoor speakers or patio band. Sec. 20-5(b)(1)b pushes that curfew later specifically for city-owned leasehold property on the Lemon Avenue Mall: 11:00 p.m. Thursday-Sunday and 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and nights before federal holidays, recognizing the entertainment district's later closing times.
Violations & Fines
First offense $250 uncontested (up to $1,000 contested); repeat offenses within 12 months run $1,000-$5,000, and evasive tactics like lowering volume when officers arrive count as an aggravating factor under Sec. 20-9(c)(9).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Sarasota bars get extra time for outdoor music?
Can a bar avoid the amplified-sound limit by keeping music indoors?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sarasota
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Sarasota to another location·View the Florida noise from specific sources overview
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Bar & Nightclub Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sarasota County handle bar & nightclub noise.