Kings County, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Kings County, 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
- Permit authority
- Board of Supervisors
- Exempt users
- Law enforcement, government agencies only
- Application info
- Location, date, purpose, amplifier wattage
- General penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
Kings County bans mounting a speaker on a vehicle to address the public on a county highway or public place without a Board of Supervisors permit first.
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than law enforcement and governmental agencies, to employ a speaker mounted upon a vehicle for the purpose of giving instructions, or directions, or making talks, addresses or lectures to any persons or assemblage upon or over any highway, without first obtaining a permit therefor as herein provided.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 8, Article II of the Kings County Code makes it unlawful for anyone other than law enforcement or a government agency to mount a speaker on a vehicle to give instructions, directions, talks, addresses, or lectures to people on or over a county highway, street, sidewalk, park, or other public property: without first getting a Board of Supervisors permit. Applicants file a written application listing where and when the speaker will be used, the amplifier's wattage, and the vehicle's license number; the Board can deny or revoke the permit if it finds a clear danger to public order or safety.
Violations & Fines
Operating a vehicle-mounted speaker without a Board of Supervisors permit is a Code of Ordinances violation, punishable under Section 1-8 by up to a $1,000 fine, 6 months jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business use a loudspeaker truck to advertise in unincorporated Kings County?
Who is exempt from the vehicle loudspeaker permit rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kings County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kings County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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