Arvada, CO Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Arvada, CO, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- Fixed or vehicle-mounted loudspeakers
- Permit issuer
- City manager or designated rep., § 38-35
- Residential daytime limit
- 55 dB(A), 7am-9pm
- Residential nighttime limit
- 50 dB(A), 9pm-7am
- Plainly audible standard
- 25 feet from a parked vehicle
Summary
Arvada requires a permit before anyone uses a loudspeaker or sound-amplifying equipment, fixed, movable, or mounted on a vehicle, on any street, alley, sidewalk, park, or public or private property under City Code § 38-62(6). Even with a permit, amplified sound is capped by the city's community noise table at 55 dB(A) in residential areas by day and 50 dB(A) at night under § 38-91.
Loudspeakers, exterior. a.Using or operating a loudspeaker or sound amplifying equipment in a fixed or movable position or mounted upon any motor vehicle upon any street, alley, sidewalk, park, place, public or private property without first obtaining a permit. b.The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to emergency vehicles when such emergency vehicles are responding to an emergency call or when in pursuit of an actual suspected violator of the law, or when responding to but not returning from a fire alarm.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Council Policy Manual: Supplement 1 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 67).
Full Breakdown
' The permit requirement does not apply to emergency vehicles responding to a call, or to church, clock, or school bells and chimes that already comply with §§ 38-62(1) and 38-91. Permits for amplified sound are issued by the city manager or a designated representative under § 38-35, which weighs the time of day, duration, loudness relative to the code's limits, and whether it is technically and economically feasible to bring the noise into conformance; a granted permit can set its own effective dates, hours, location, and sound-pressure limits.
, or 50 dB(A) overnight, measured over at least a ten-minute period more than 90 percent of the time; commercial districts allow 60/55 dB(A) and light industrial 70/65 dB(A). Radios, speakers, or musical instruments played so loudly they are 'plainly audible' at the property line, through a shared wall, or 25 feet from a parked vehicle also separately violate § 38-62(8).
Violations & Fines
Operating amplified sound equipment outdoors without a city permit is a specific violation of § 38-62(6), and exceeding the § 38-91 decibel table, or being 'plainly audible' at the property line under § 38-62(8), are independent violations even with a permit in hand if the permit's own limits are exceeded. General violations of the noise chapter are punished under § 38-33 by the § 1-5 fine schedule, up to $2,650, up to 364 days jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to play amplified music outdoors in Arvada?
What decibel level counts as too loud in an Arvada neighborhood?
Can I be cited for loud music even if my speakers meet the decibel limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arvada
Compare Arvada to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.