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Ann Arbor, MI Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Amplified music rules in Ann Arbor, MI, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.

Key Facts

Exempt activities
parades, concerts, festivals, fairs
Condition
subject to city-approved sound limits
Without approval
falls under general dB(A) table

Summary

Ann Arbor exempts parades, concerts, festivals and fairs from the standard noise limits only when the sound stays within whatever limits the city sets in its event approval.

(d)Parades, concerts, festivals, fairs or similar activities subject to any sound limits in the approval by the city.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 4).

Full Breakdown

Section 9:366(1)(d) carves parades, concerts, festivals, fairs and similar activities out of the Section 9:364 decibel table, but only "subject to any sound limits in the approval by the city" - meaning an outdoor concert or festival still needs the city's sign-off on volume, not a blanket pass. Organizers of live amplified music events in the City of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County should secure that approval, since running an event without it forfeits the exemption and exposes the sound to the general dB(A) table and nuisance provisions.

Violations & Fines

Without city approval setting the limits, an outdoor event's sound reverts to the general noise rules: a civil infraction of $50-$500, escalating to $200-$500 for repeat violations within two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do outdoor concerts in Ann Arbor have to meet the residential/commercial decibel table?
No - Section 9:366(1)(d) exempts parades, concerts, festivals and fairs, but only within whatever sound limits the city sets when approving the event.
What happens if a festival runs louder than the city approved?
It loses the exemption and is judged under the general Section 9:364 dB(A) limits and nuisance rules.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Ann Arbor

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsQuiet HoursSome RestrictionsConstruction HoursSome RestrictionsAircraft NoiseFew RestrictionsVehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsLeaf Blower RulesSignificant RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsDecibel LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Snow Removal Parking RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome Restrictions

All Ann Arbor rules

Compare Ann Arbor to another location·View the Michigan noise ordinances overview

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