Olympia, WA Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)

The City of Olympia, in Thurston County, Washington, measures amplified sound by how far it carries. Olympia Municipal Code § 9.16.020(D) makes it disorderly conduct, when done knowingly and without lawful authority, to cause a public noise disturbance or to be in possession and control of property on which one occurs. Two of the listed disturbances deal with audio equipment.

Item 5 covers sound from motor vehicle audio sound systems, such as tape players, radios, and compact disc players, operated at a volume so as to be audible greater than fifty feet from the vehicle itself. Item 6 covers sound from portable audio equipment, such as tape players, radios, and compact disc players, operated at a volume so as to be audible greater than fifty feet from the source, and if not operated upon the property of the operator. That last condition means the portable-equipment rule does not apply to a person playing audio on their own property; the vehicle rule has no such carve-out in its text.

The code does not mention bass, low frequencies, subwoofers or a decibel reading. Heavy bass is covered because it is audible past the fifty-foot line, and the officer's judgment of audibility is the test, not a meter. Chapter 8.32 does set dBA limits, but those apply to the motor vehicle itself in operation, not to its stereo.

One exception is printed: the provisions do not apply to regularly scheduled events at parks, such as public address systems for baseball games or park concerts.

A separate item in the same list, OMC 9.16.020(D)(4), addresses frequent, repetitive or continuous sounds emanating from a building, structure, apartment or condominium that unreasonably interfere with the peace, comfort and repose of owners or possessors of real property, naming musical instruments, audio sound systems and band sessions.