Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Chino Hills, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

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

Amplified music rules in Chino Hills, 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

Nighttime cutoff
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Audibility test
plainly audible at 25 feet
Zones covered
residential and mixed-use residential
Open space amplified sound
special event permit required
Park amplified sound
Community Services Director permit
Enforcing section
CHMC § 16.48.020(G)

Summary

Chino Hills treats amplified sound as a prima facie noise violation when it is plainly audible in a residential zone at night. Municipal Code Section 16.48.020(G)(1) makes it a violation to run a radio, stereo, loudspeaker, musical instrument, or similar amplified device between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. if it is plainly audible twenty-five feet from the source in or near a residential district.

G.Notwithstanding the foregoing, any of the following constitutes prima facie evidence of a violation of this section:1.The operation of any sound production or reproduction device, radio receiving set, musical instrument, drum, phonograph, television set, loudspeaker and sound amplifier or similar machine or device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner as to be plainly audible within any residential zoning district or within the residential portion of a mixed use zoning district and at a distance of twenty-five (25) feet from the building, property, or vehicle from which the offending noise is originating.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 61).

Full Breakdown

020(G) singles out sound equipment for a bright-line nighttime test that does not require a decibel meter. is prima facie evidence of a code violation if it is plainly audible, meaning audible to an unaided ear, at a distance of twenty-five feet from the building, property, or vehicle where it originates, and within, or bordering, a residential zoning district or the residential portion of a mixed-use district. is enough to shift the burden to the operator. Outside the noise chapter, the Municipal Code separately restricts amplified sound on city-owned open space and in city parks.

210 bars installing or operating a loudspeaker or sound amplifying equipment in City-Owned Open Space unless a special event permit authorizes it, and exempts only City, law enforcement, fire district, and animal control personnel performing official duties. 240 similarly makes it unlawful to run a loudspeaker or sound amplifying equipment in a City park for talks, addresses, or music without either a Community Services Director permit or authorization from law enforcement or park and recreation personnel; the Director weighs permit requests against free-speech rights, potential for disorder, and conflicts with other scheduled park uses. , or moves into City open space or park land without a permit.

Violations & Fines

A first amplified-sound violation is charged as an infraction under Chapter 1.36, punishable by a fine of up to one hundred dollars, rising to two hundred dollars for a second violation and five hundred dollars for a third within a year; a fourth violation in that period is prosecutable as a misdemeanor. Operating a loudspeaker in city open space or a park without the required permit is a separate violation of Section 12.32.210 or 12.40.240.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get cited for loud music without a decibel meter reading?
Yes. Section 16.48.020(G)(1) treats any radio, stereo, or musical instrument that is plainly audible to an unaided ear at twenty-five feet, in or near a residential zone between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., as prima facie evidence of a violation, so an officer can cite based on audibility alone.
Do I need a permit to use a PA system or speakers at a park event?
Yes. Section 12.40.240 requires a reservation or permit from the Community Services Director before operating a loudspeaker or sound amplifying equipment in a Chino Hills park, unless it is operated by law enforcement or park and recreation personnel.
Is amplified sound allowed on City-Owned Open Space trails?
No, not without a special event permit. Section 12.32.210 makes it unlawful to install or operate a loudspeaker or any sound amplifying equipment on City-Owned Open Space unless a special event permit authorizes it.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Chino Hills

All Chino Hills rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Chino Hills to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview

Get notified when Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Chino Hills, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

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 San Bernardino County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.

San Bernardino, CA
Some Restrictions
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Some Restrictions
Fontana, CA
Some Restrictions
Chino, CA
Some Restrictions
Rialto, CA
Some Restrictions
Ontario, CA
Some Restrictions