East Baton Rouge Parish, LA Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Decibel limit
- 75 dB from commercially used property
- Hours covered
- 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Measured at
- complainant's property line, calibrated meter
- First-offense fine
- $200
- Repeat-offense fine
- $300 to $500 per offense
- Event exception
- temporary permits exempt under Sec. 12:105(b)
Summary
Baton Rouge bars, nightclubs and other commercial property can't emit noise louder than 75 decibels between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., measured with a calibrated sound meter from the complainant's property line. The cap sits inside the parish's general noise ordinance and applies alongside the broader ban on loud, raucous noise citywide and parish-wide.
The making of noise which exceeds seventy-five (75) decibels emitted from any commercially used property, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., when measured by a calibrated sound level meter from the property line of the complainant's property.
Full Breakdown
Title 12, Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge sets the baseline at Sec. 12:100: no one may make any loud and raucous noise in the parish which is offensive to persons of ordinary sensibilities and renders enjoyment of life or property uncomfortable. Sec. , when measured by a calibrated sound level meter from the property line of the complainant's property. That covers bars, nightclubs, restaurants with live music, and any other commercially used address, whether the source is a band, a DJ, or outdoor speakers.
) carry no decibel cap under this subsection, but a venue can still be cited under the general Sec. 12:100 nuisance standard if noise is loud and raucous enough to disturb neighbors at any hour. Sec. 12:105(b) carves out a narrow exception: when the city-parish issues a temporary special permit for an entertainment or recreational event, that event is exempt from the 12:101(3) decibel limit, provided noise is otherwise regulated in the supervision of the activity, and the permit stays subject to revocation for excessive or inappropriate noise. Enforcement is complaint-driven, with the sound-meter reading taken at the neighbor's property line, not the venue's door.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of the noise chapter, including the 75-decibel commercial limit, carries a $200 fine under Sec. 12:104(a). A second offense jumps to a fine of not less than $300 nor more than $500, and each additional violation is charged separately. A bar operating under a temporary event permit can also lose that permit outright if the parish finds the noise excessive, under Sec. 12:105(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can a Baton Rouge bar be at night?
Can a nightclub get permission to be louder for a special event?
What's the fine for violating Baton Rouge's noise ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in East Baton Rouge Parish
Compare East Baton Rouge Parish to another location·View the Louisiana 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.