Fairfield, CT Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Fairfield's Noise chapter defines a 'sound production device' in § 78-2 as any device whose primary function is producing sound and that is electronically amplified, expressly including a loudspeaker, radio, vehicle stereo, vehicle muffler, television, digital or analog music player, public address system or other sound-amplifying equipment. Such devices are measured against the chapter's time-based schedule: § 78-2 defines daytime hours as 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and state or national holidays, and defines nighttime hours as 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Sunday night through Friday morning on the weekday schedule, and 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Friday night through Sunday morning on the weekend schedule, with the weekend schedule applying the night before a holiday through the holiday morning. A resident or business that wants to run amplified sound equipment beyond the chapter's normal limits, for an event, promotion or activity, can apply to the Chief of Police for a variance under § 78-9A, but must supply the location, nature and duration of the activity, and the nature and intensity of the noise it will generate, at least 20 days before the activity starts.

Under § 78-9B, no variance may issue unless the applicant shows the activity will not violate state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection noise regulations, will not endanger public health, and that compliance with the chapter would otherwise be an unreasonable hardship. The Chief of Police must approve or reject the application in writing at least five days before the activity, per § 78-9C, and under § 78-9D, failure to rule on it in time counts as an approval.