Jefferson County, CO Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Jefferson County, CO, 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 prohibition
- Part 3, Ch. 1, Sec. 1, B.1
- Residential daytime cap
- 55 dB(A), 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Residential nighttime cap
- 50 dB(A), 7 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Measurement distance
- 25 feet from property line
- First-offense fine
- $30.00, up to $300.00
Summary
Speakers, PA systems, and other amplified sound equipment fall under Jefferson County's general ban on any "machine or device" that exceeds the Permissive Noise Levels table: 55 dB(A) by day and 50 dB(A) by night in residential zones, measured 25 feet from the property line.
B. Excessive Sound Levels Prohibited. 1. No person shall operate any type of vehicle, machine, or device, or carry on any activity, or promote or facilitate the carrying on of any activity which makes sound in excess of the level specified in the Permissive Noise Levels Section. ... D.3. Sound from a non-vehicular source located in a residential zone, shall not exceed the following limits: 7:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M.: 55 dB(A); 7:00 P.M. until 7:00 A.M. of the same day of the following day: 50 dB(A). D.4. Periodic, impulsive, or shrill noises are hereby declared unlawful when such noises are at or above a sound level of five dB(A) less than those listed in this Section.
Full Breakdown
Part 3, Ch. 1, Sec. 1(B)(1) of the Jefferson County Policy Manual prohibits operating "any type of vehicle, machine, or device" or carrying on "any activity" that produces sound above the levels fixed in Section D, and that catch-all language covers stereos, outdoor speakers, PA systems at gatherings, and amplified live music alike since the Regulation defines no separate category for them. 4-1971 A-weighted sound meter. 4 lowers the bar further for periodic or shrill tones, treating them as unlawful at 5 dB(A) below the base limit, which matters for bass-heavy amplified music where the beat itself repeats.
The Regulation exempts sound made within a permitted fireworks display and county-sponsored cultural, entertainment, or athletic events, including concerts and music festivals conducted by the County or a nonprofit, but a private residential party or business patio playing amplified music is squarely covered by the general prohibition and the residential-zone table.
Violations & Fines
Amplified sound above the D.3 threshold is a Class 2 Petty Offense under Section F.1, punishable by a $30 fine plus court costs for a first offense under the penalty-assessment procedure of C.R.S. § 16-2-201, with a graduated schedule adding $30 per repeat offense up to a $300 maximum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a separate rule for amplified music or speakers in Jefferson County?
Is a county-sponsored concert or festival exempt from the noise limit?
How is amplified music measured for a noise complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson County
Compare Jefferson County to another location·View the Colorado noise ordinances overview
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