Annapolis, MD Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Annapolis, MD, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 65 dBA day / 55 dBA night
- Office/mixed-use limit
- 67 dBA day / 62 dBA night
- Commercial/industrial limit
- 75 dBA day and night
- Enforced by
- Planning & Zoning Director, Police Chief
- Citation
- Annapolis City Code § 11.12.020
Summary
Annapolis caps outdoor sound, including amplified music, at 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime in residential zones, with higher limits downtown and in commercial districts, enforced under the city's adopted Maryland noise standards.
Sound levels. The maximum allowable decibel noise levels shall follow the Code of Maryland Regulations 26.02.03.02 (Environmental Noise Standards). The following chart shows sound levels allowed in specific City of Annapolis zoning districts. Residential zoning districts, as identified in Chapter 21.40 65 dBA 55 dBA
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2025 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Annapolis Code § 11.12.020 adopts COMAR 26.02.03 as its baseline and layers stricter numeric limits on top: residential zones may not exceed 65 dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 55 dBA overnight, office/mixed-use districts top out at 67/62 dBA, and commercial/industrial zones are capped at 75 dBA around the clock. The limits apply to amplified music same as any other sound source, there's no separate carve-out. The Director of Planning and Zoning or the Police Chief enforces the ordinance as a municipal infraction, and § 11.12.120 requires each repeat violation by the same person, group, or property owner to be cited at the next-highest fine tier, with no warning required.
Violations & Fines
Violating the noise limits is a municipal infraction under § 11.12.120, punishable by a fine set in the City's annual Fines Schedule; repeat violations by the same person or property owner escalate to the next-highest fine tier automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Annapolis limit amplified music at outdoor events?
What decibel level is illegal in a residential Annapolis neighborhood at night?
Who enforces Annapolis's noise ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Annapolis
Compare Annapolis to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview
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