Cupertino, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Cupertino, 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
- Residential limit
- 50 dBA night, 60 dBA day
- Nonresidential limit
- 55 dBA night, 65 dBA day
- Outdoor event cap
- 70 dBA on residential property, 3 hrs max
- Permit required
- Yes, from the City for amplified events
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under § 10.48.070
Summary
Cupertino Municipal Code § 10.48.040 caps noise at 50 dBA nighttime and 60 dBA daytime from residential property, and 55/65 dBA from nonresidential property. Section 10.48.052 lets outdoor public events use amplified sound only under a City permit, capping event noise at 70 dBA on nearby residential property for up to three daytime hours.
Land Use at Point of Origin Maximum Noise Level at Complaint Site of Receiving Property Nighttime Daytime Residential 50 dBA 60 dBA Nonresidential 55 dBA 65 dBA ... Outdoor events open to the general public on nonresidential property, such as parades, rallies, fairs, concerts and special sales and promotional events, involving generation of noise levels higher than would normally occur, by use of the human voice, public address systems, musical instruments, electronic amplification systems, and similar soundproducing activities, are allowed upon obtaining an appropriate permit from the city, and subject to the following general limitations: The event shall not produce noise levels above seventy dBA on any residential property for a period longer than three hours during daytime. The event shall not produce noise levels above sixty dBA on any residential property during the period from eight p.m. to eleven p.m., and above fifty-five dBA for any other nighttime period.
Full Breakdown
040: a noise source on residential property cannot exceed 50 dBA at night or 60 dBA during the day as measured at a complaint site, while nonresidential property is capped at 55 dBA at night and 65 dBA during the day. on weekends; nighttime is the remaining hours. 052 specifically governs amplified sound at outdoor public events, parades, rallies, fairs, concerts, and promotional events using the human voice, public address systems, musical instruments, or electronic amplification, on nonresidential property. , or 55 dBA at any other nighttime hour, and continuous peak levels above 95 dBA are barred wherever people could be continuously exposed.
Permit conditions can impose stricter limits than the ordinance itself, and those conditions control when they conflict with the code. 050 separately allows brief daytime noise spikes elsewhere in the code as long as the excess decibels plus the duration in minutes stay at or under 20 within a two-hour window. 12.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the Chapter 10.48 noise limits, including the amplified-sound caps for a permitted outdoor event under Section 10.48.052, is a misdemeanor under Section 10.48.070, punishable under Chapter 1.12 by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both. The Noise Control Officer can also issue a citation, complaint, or abatement order under Section 10.48.011 after a warning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can an outdoor concert or event be in Cupertino?
Do I need a permit to use a PA system or band outdoors?
What are Cupertino's everyday residential noise limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cupertino
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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.