Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Campbell County

Campbell County, KY Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Significant Restrictions

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

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

Key Facts

Amplified entertainment hours: Fri-Sat only, noon to 10:00 p.m.
Non-amplified entertainment hours: Daily, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Governing provision: § 154.092(C)(7)(d), outdoor dining conditional use
Countywide noise ceiling (daytime): 55 dB residential, 60 dB commercial
Countywide noise ceiling (overnight): 50 dB residential, 55 dB commercial
Penalty: Class B misdemeanor, each day separate offense

Summary

Outdoor dining spots in Campbell County's NC and Rural Commercial zones can run amplified music or entertainment only on Friday and Saturday, from noon to 10:00 p.m. Non-amplified entertainment gets a wider window, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Code § 154.092(C)(7)(d) sets the amplified-sound limit as a condition of the county's outdoor dining permit.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Campbell County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(c) Non-amplified entertainment shall be limited to the hours between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. within the outdoor dining areas. (d) Amplified entertainment shall be permitted only on Friday and Saturday between the hours of noon and 10:00 p.m.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-50: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. O-09-2026, passed 8-5-26; and Res. R-42-26, passed 7-15-26; and State legislation current through KRS Pamphlet 2025).

Full Breakdown

Campbell County does not run a general decibel ordinance aimed specifically at amplified music; instead, amplified entertainment is regulated as a condition attached to the conditional use permit for outdoor eating and drinking areas. 097(D)(8). within the outdoor dining area. m. Subsection (e) lets the Board of Adjustment vary those operating hours when it approves the conditional use, based on the development controls written into the applicant's site plan, so an operator can request different hours at the permit stage. , dropping to 50 and 55 decibels overnight, measured with an ANSI-standard sound level meter. 092(C)(7)(d) and this decibel ceiling.

Violations & Fines

Running amplified entertainment outside the Friday/Saturday noon-to-10 p.m. window, or exceeding the decibel limits in § 154.205(C)(3), breaches the conditional use permit and Chapter 154 generally. Under § 154.999, any zoning violation is a Class B misdemeanor, with each day of continued violation charged as a separate offense; the Board of Adjustment can also modify or revoke the conditional use permit for noncompliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a restaurant play amplified music outside on a Tuesday night in Campbell County?

No. Under § 154.092(C)(7)(d), amplified entertainment in an outdoor dining area is only allowed on Friday and Saturday, between noon and 10:00 p.m. On other days the outdoor area is limited to non-amplified entertainment, and only until 10:00 p.m.

What counts as amplified entertainment versus non-amplified?

The code does not define the terms further, but it distinguishes sound run through speakers, microphones, or PA equipment (amplified) from live or recorded sound without electronic amplification (non-amplified). Amplified entertainment gets the narrower Friday/Saturday noon-to-10 p.m. window; non-amplified entertainment is allowed daily from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Is there a decibel limit that applies on top of the time restriction?

Yes. Section 154.205(C)(3) caps continuously radiated noise at 55 decibels at a residential property line and 60 decibels at a commercial one between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., dropping five decibels overnight. Amplified entertainment permitted under § 154.092(C)(7)(d) still has to stay under that ceiling.

Can the county change my outdoor entertainment hours?

The Board of Adjustment can vary the operational hours for outdoor entertainment as part of approving the conditional use permit, per § 154.092(C)(7)(e), based on the development controls set out in the site plan you submit, so the standard schedule is a default, not an absolute cap.

Sources & Official References

[1]Campbell County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 154 (American Legal)

Other rules in Campbell County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome Restrictions Barking DogsSome Restrictions Decibel LimitsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Driveway RulesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome Restrictions

All Campbell County rules

Compare Campbell County to another location·View the Kentucky noise ordinances overview

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.