Prince George's County, MD Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Prince George's County, MD, 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 example
- § 19-122(c)(5) amplified sound
- Residential ceiling
- 65 dBA day / 55 dBA night
- Event exemption
- Non-amplified sound only, 7 a.m.-midnight
- First offense
- Up to $1,000 fine or 30 days
- Repeat offense
- Up to $1,500 fine
- Measured by
- Dept.-approved sound level meter
Summary
Prince George's County treats any device that 'produces, reproduces, or amplifies sound' as a noise violation once it exceeds the zone's decibel ceiling or creates a disturbance, under County Code § 19-122(c)(5), and strips the ordinance's permitted-event exemption from any sound that is electronically amplified.
(c)Examples. The following examples illustrate common noise-producing acts that violate this section if they exceed the noise level standards set in subsection (a) or create a noise disturbance. The examples are illustrative only and do not limit or expand the noise level or noise disturbance standards of this section:...(5)Operating a device that produces, reproduces, or amplifies sound....(10)Sound, except those sounds that are electronically amplified, between 7 a.m. and midnight, created by:(A)Sporting events (except trap shooting, skeet shooting, or other target shooting);(B)Entertainment events; and(C)Other public gatherings operating under permit or permission of the appropriate local jurisdiction;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2026 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 19-122(c) lists 'operating a device that produces, reproduces, or amplifies sound' as example (5) of conduct that violates the noise ordinance whenever it pushes past the decibel ceiling in § 19-122(a) or otherwise creates a 'noise disturbance' as defined at § 19-121(11). The examples in subsection (c) are illustrative, not exhaustive, so a boombox, PA system, DJ setup, car stereo, or outdoor speaker all fall under the same standard. ' That means a permitted festival's crowd noise is exempt while its amplified stage sound is not, so amplified music at any outdoor event still has to stay under the applicable decibel ceiling, 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime in a residential receiving area, 67/62 dBA commercial, or 75 dBA industrial, unless another specific exemption applies.
Amplified sound crossing from a commercial or entertainment property into an adjoining residential area must meet the stricter residential limit under § 19-122(a)(5). Complaints are measured with Department-approved sound meters adopted under § 19-126, and the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, the Police Department, or the Animal Control Division for animal-triggered disturbances can respond and cite a violation.
Violations & Fines
A first amplified-sound violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and 30 days in jail, rising to $1,500 for each later offense, with every day of continued amplification counted separately (§ 19-124(a)). Officers may instead write a civil citation up to those same dollar amounts (§ 19-124(b)). If citations pile up at one address, more than two within a year lets the Director cite the property owner or landlord after notice (§ 19-125), and the Administrative Court hears appeals (§ 19-124(c)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a permitted outdoor concert exempt from PG County's noise law?
What counts as an amplified sound violation?
What decibel limit applies to amplified music near homes?
How is amplified noise measured for a citation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince George's County
Compare Prince George's County to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview
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