Tallahassee, FL Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- § 12-94(c)
- Applies to
- alcohol-serving Central Core establishments
- Audibility threshold
- 200 feet from establishment
- Curfew starts
- 11 p.m. Sun-Thu, midnight Fri-Sat
- Curfew ends
- 7:00 a.m.
- Fine schedule
- $250/$350/$500 escalating
- Grandfather cap
- 60 dB(A)/75 dB(C), 25+-yr use
Summary
Tallahassee Code of General Ordinances § 12-94(c) bars any alcohol-serving establishment zoned Central Core inside the Urban Core from producing outdoor amplified sound plainly audible 200 feet away, starting at 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday, until 7:00 a.m. Fines escalate to $500.00 for repeat violations under § 12-96.
(c)Within Urban Core—Outdoor amplified sound. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this section for an establishment, which offers for sale alcoholic beverages, which is located on a property which is zoned Central Core and which is located within the Urban Core, to create, transmit or produce any outdoor amplified sound which is plainly audible 200 feet from the establishment, on Sunday to Thursday nights commencing at 11:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday nights commencing at midnight, until 7:00 a.m. the following morning. For purposes of this subsection, "amplified" shall mean the use of speakers, loudspeakers, public address system, or mechanical or electronic device to transmit, produce, reproduce, increase, expand or amplify sound. For purposes of this subsection, "outdoor" shall mean the exterior of the establishment, which includes, but is not limited to, courtyards, patios, porches, sidewalks, driveways and any other outdoor space.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Development Code: Supplement 75 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
Subsection 12-94(c), "Within Urban Core: Outdoor amplified sound," targets only establishments that offer alcoholic beverages for sale on Central Core-zoned property inside the Urban Core district mapped in § 12-93. "Amplified" is defined to mean speakers, loudspeakers, a public address system, or any mechanical or electronic device used to transmit, produce, reproduce, increase, expand, or amplify sound, and "outdoor" covers courtyards, patios, porches, sidewalks, and driveways, not just open lots. The 200-foot audibility line is measured under § 12-94(d): from the property line if the person responsible is the owner, tenant, employee, agent, or guest, from the property line if the officer cannot access the property, and from the sound source itself in every other case.
Enforcement runs through § 12-96: a police or code enforcement officer must first attempt to notify the responsible party, who then gets a five-minute voluntary-compliance window before a citation issues, except when the same person or property drew a violation in the prior six months, in which case a citation issues without warning. 00 for a third or later, with a new violation possible every 15 minutes the sound continues after notice, and a certified fine order can be recorded as a property lien under § 2-183(e). m.
Violations & Fines
Enforcement follows § 12-96: after notice from an officer, the responsible party gets five minutes to voluntarily cut the sound before a citation issues, except where the same person or site was cited in the prior six months, which removes that grace period entirely. Fines run $250.00 for a first violation, $350.00 for a second, and $500.00 for a third or subsequent violation, with each 15-minute continuation after notice treated as a separate violation, and unpaid fines may be recorded as a lien against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this noise limit apply to every bar in Tallahassee?
What counts as 'amplified' sound under this rule?
Do officers issue an immediate citation for a first complaint?
Can an old, established bar exceed the 200-foot limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tallahassee
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Tallahassee to another location·View the Florida 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.