Tacoma, WA Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- plainly audible 50 feet away
- Bass counts
- rhythmic bass alone qualifies
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine / 90 days jail
- First-offense minimum
- $500 fine, $250 not suspendable
Summary
A stereo or speaker whose bass carries 50 feet past its own property line breaks Tacoma's noise code: even without a decibel reading, plainly audible rhythmic bass alone is enough to cite.
Any sound produced by a sound reproduction device (as that term is defined in Section 8.122.010) that is plainly audible (as that term is defined in Section 8.122.010 TMC) 50 feet from the source of the sound...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4946110; v22 updated 2026-07-28).
Full Breakdown
Tacoma Municipal Code § 8.12.060(A)(3) bars any sound from a 'sound reproduction device' that is 'plainly audible' 50 feet from its source. Section 8.122.010 defines 'plainly audible' broadly: detecting any component of a sound, including, but not limited to, the rhythmic bass, with unaided hearing is enough, without identifying the song, artist, or words. That makes this a distance/audibility test, separate from the ambient decibel-increase table in Chapter 8.122 that covers other noise sources. Enforcement is by the Tacoma Police Department under Chapter 8.12's disorderly-conduct provisions.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 8.12.060 is a misdemeanor: up to 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine, with a mandatory $250 minimum on a first conviction and $300 on each repeat violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my car stereo's bass have to be measured in decibels to get cited?
Is this the same rule as Tacoma's general decibel limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
Compare Tacoma to another location·View the Washington noise from specific sources overview
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