Compton, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Compton, 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
- Registration
- filed with Police Chief 14 days ahead
- Noncommercial hours
- 11:30am-1:30pm and 4:30-6:30pm only
- Power cap
- 15 watts in final amplification stage
- No-sound buffer
- 100 yards of hospitals, schools, churches
- Audibility limit
- not audible beyond 100 feet
- Commercial license fee
- $100/yr, $30/mo, or $10/day
Summary
Anyone using a loudspeaker or sound truck on Compton streets must first register with the Police Chief. Noncommercial use is capped at four hours a day, split between 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m., banned entirely on Sundays and holidays, and limited to 15 watts of power under Municipal Code Section 7-12.15.
d. Regulations for Use. Noncommercial use of sound trucks in the City of Compton with sound-amplifying equipment is in operation shall be subject to the following regulations: ... 2. Operations are permitted for four hours each day, except on Sundays and legal holidays when no operations shall be authorized. The permitted four hours of operation shall be between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ... 4. Sound shall not be issued within 100 yards of hospitals, schools, churches or courthouses. ... 7. The volume of sound shall be controlled so that it will not be audible for a distance in excess of 100 feet from the sound truck and so that the volume is not unreasonably loud, raucous, jarring, disturbing or a nuisance to persons within the area of audibility. 8. No sound-amplifying equipment shall be operated with an excess of 15 watts of power in the last stage of amplification.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4952997; v15 updated 2026-07-14; through 07-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
14 requires filing a registration statement with the Police Chief at least 14 days ahead, listing the owner, user, operator, wattage, expected decibel level and audible range. Any change must be reported within 48 hours, and the certified copy of the registration must be carried in the truck and shown to any officer on request. , with no operation at all on Sundays or legal holidays. The truck must move at least 10 mph except when stopped by traffic, and even then the equipment can run for no more than one minute per stop.
Sound cannot be produced within 100 yards of a hospital, school, church or courthouse, is banned outright on streets in the Downtown Business District, and content can't be profane, lewd, indecent or slanderous. Volume must stay inaudible beyond 100 feet, and amplifiers are capped at 15 watts of power in the final stage. 16, costing $100 a year, $30 a month or $10 a day, issued by the City Treasurer once payment clears and the application shows no rule violations.
Violations & Fines
Operating without registration or the required commercial license, or breaking any hours, wattage, buffer-zone or content rule, is a misdemeanor under Section 7-12.5, punishable under Chapter 1, Section 1-6.2, by a fine up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail, or both. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense, and a court may also issue a restraining order or injunction to abate the noise as a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive a sound truck through Compton neighborhoods?
How far can sound-amplifying equipment be heard?
Do I need a license to use a sound truck for advertising?
What happens if I ignore Compton's sound truck rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Compton
California rules heatmap·Compare Compton to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.