San Benito County, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in San Benito County, CA, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- Exemption basis
- conditional use permit required
- Noise limit
- set by the permit, in dBA
- Default fallback
- § 19.39.030 table, 10pm–7am cutoff
- Applies to
- unincorporated county only
Summary
Outdoor concerts, dances, and entertainment events in unincorporated San Benito County skip the county's standard noise limits only if a conditional use permit sets its own specific decibel cap for the event.
The following activities shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter: ... (D) Outdoor gatherings, public dances, shows and sporting and entertainment events, provided said events are conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions of a conditional use permit issued by the county, that has a specific noise limitation expressed in dBA attached to it.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: current through Ordinance 1078).
Full Breakdown
San Benito County Code Section 19.39.051(D) exempts "outdoor gatherings, public dances, shows and sporting and entertainment events" from the chapter's general sound limits, but only if the event is conducted under the terms of a conditional use permit that carries its own specific dBA noise limitation. Without that CUP condition, an outdoor music event in the unincorporated county falls back to the standard Section 19.39.030 land-use decibel table and the Section 19.39.040(C) amplified-sound hours, a 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. cutoff. Organizers effectively trade the county's default rules for whatever limit the Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors writes into the permit.
Violations & Fines
Breaching the CUP's noise condition, or holding the event without one, is enforced like any other county code infraction: escalating fines up to $500, or a misdemeanor charge carrying up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for an outdoor concert in unincorporated San Benito County?
What happens if there is no CUP noise condition?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Benito County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Benito County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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