Charleston, WV Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Charleston, WV, 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
- Sec. 78-212, Noise control
- First-offense fine
- $100
- Repeat-offense fine (5th+)
- $500 each
- Named exempt festivals
- FestivAll, Live on the Levee, Multifest
- Standard used
- Disturbs good order / annoys
Summary
Charleston's noise-control ordinance bans unreasonable outdoor noise citywide, so unpermitted outdoor amplified or live music that disturbs neighbors can draw a citation, but city-sponsored festivals and school events get a built-in exemption.
(c)Noise prohibited; generally. Subject to the exceptions contained herein, no person shall make, continue or cause to be made any noise as defined herein... Noise generated from city sponsored or approved celebrations or events, including, but not limited to, parades, outdoor concerts, and athletic events;... FestivAll, Live on the Levee, Doo-Wop and Rod Run, Symphony Sunday, The Wine and Jazz Festival, and Multifest, are also presumed to be "city sponsored or approved" and are specifically exempt from the foregoing prohibitions.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 78-212 makes it unlawful to "make, continue or cause to be made any noise" that disturbs the good order of the community or annoys a reasonable person, and that general ban covers outdoor amplified or live music unless an exemption applies. City-sponsored or -approved celebrations, expressly including outdoor concerts, plus named events like FestivAll, Live on the Levee, Doo-Wop and Rod Run, Symphony Sunday, the Wine and Jazz Festival, Multifest, and school-sponsored outdoor concerts and band festivals, are presumed approved and exempt. A bar patio band or backyard party with no city sponsorship gets no such pass and is judged case-by-case against the nuisance standard.
Violations & Fines
Fines escalate per 24-month period: $100 first offense, $200 second, $300 third, $400 fourth, $500 fifth and each thereafter; each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Charleston bar host outdoor live music?
Is FestivAll exempt from Charleston's noise ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
Compare Charleston to another location·View the West Virginia noise ordinances overview
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