Clay County, FL Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Clay County, FL, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Clay County Code § 15-5(c)
- Trigger
- Heard inside another home for 5 minutes
- Daytime exception
- Bars exempt from this test 7 a.m.-midnight
- Maximum penalty
- $500 fine and/or 60 days in jail
- Civil infraction range
- $25 to $150 across three violation tiers
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Clay County only
Summary
Clay County bans artificially amplified sound, speakers, radios, and media players, that disturbs a neighbor's peace and quiet. Section 15-5(c) makes it unlawful if amplified noise is audible from inside another person's home for five consecutive minutes, though sound from a bar or restaurant between 7 a.m. and midnight is exempt from that particular test.
Prohibition in general. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this subsection for a person to make or cause or to permit if within his or her control the making or causing of any artificially amplified sound or noise of a continuous duration which shall disturb the peace, quiet and repose of any other person of reasonable and ordinary sensibilities.(2)Prohibition in particular. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this subsection for a person on any premises to make or cause or to permit if within his or her control the making or causing of any artificially amplified sound or noise, whether uninterruptedly or intermittently, during any period of five (5) consecutive minutes that is heard or capable of being heard from within an occupied residence not the residence of such person by a person of ordinary hearing ability; provided, the provisions of this paragraph (2) shall not apply to artificially amplified sound or noise coming from the premises of an alcoholic beverage establishment between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 86).
Full Breakdown
Section 15-5 governs disturbing-the-peace noise countywide in unincorporated Clay County, and subsection (c) targets "artificially amplified sound," defined in (a)(2) as any sound produced or increased through an electronic sound amplifying device, a media player, a radio, or a sound-producing instrument. The general prohibition in (c)(1) bars any continuous amplified sound that disturbs the peace, quiet, and repose of a person of ordinary sensibilities. and midnight. m. Subsection (c)(4) separately bars playing a car stereo loud enough to be heard inside another vehicle's fully enclosed passenger compartment on a public or private road.
An owner, leaseholder, or on-site manager is responsible for amplified noise on their premises under (c)(5) unless a third party caused it and they made reasonable efforts to stop it. Government-sponsored events and utility or emergency personnel performing official duties are exempt under (f)(2). A violation is a second-degree misdemeanor carrying up to $500 and 60 days in jail, or a civil infraction under section 15-20 starting at a $25 category 1 penalty for an initial residential violation and escalating to $150 for a habitual violation.
Violations & Fines
Amplified noise heard inside a neighbor's home for five straight minutes is a second-degree misdemeanor under Sections 775.082 and 775.083, Florida Statutes: up to $500 and 60 days in jail. As a civil infraction under section 15-20, a first residential violation is a $25 category 1 penalty, rising to $75 for a second violation and $150 for a habitual violation within 180 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can my neighbor's music be in Clay County?
Are bars exempt from Clay County's noise ordinance?
Can I get in trouble for a loud car stereo?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clay County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Clay County to another location·View the Florida noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.