Montgomery County, MD Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Montgomery 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
- Residential daytime limit
- 65 dBA
- Residential nighttime limit
- 55 dBA
- Non-residential limit
- 67 dBA day / 62 dBA night
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Environmental Protection
- Violation class
- Class A, per-day offense
Summary
Amplified outdoor sound, including live music, must stay within Montgomery County's noise-level caps: 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime in residential receiving areas, enforced by the Department of Environmental Protection under the county's Noise Control Law.
a person must not cause or permit noise levels that exceed the following levels: ... Non-residential noise area 67 62 ... Residential noise area 65 55 ... (5) Operating a device that produces, reproduces, or amplifies sound.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Montgomery County Code Chapter 31B caps outdoor sound reaching a residential receiving property at 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime, and 67/62 dBA for non-residential areas (§ 31B-5(a)(1)). Amplified music is an explicit example of a regulated source: § 31B-5(c)(5) lists 'operating a device that produces, reproduces, or amplifies sound' among the acts that violate the section if it exceeds those levels or creates a noise disturbance. A narrow carve-out in § 31B-10(a)(4) exempts only non-amplified sound from permitted sports, entertainment, or public gathering events held 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., amplified outdoor music at those same events still must meet the § 31B-5 decibel limits unless the Director grants a temporary event waiver under § 31B-11.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding 65/55 dBA (day/night) in residential areas or 67/62 dBA in non-residential areas is a Class A violation; each day it continues is a separate offense, enforced by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business play live amplified music outdoors in Montgomery County?
Is there an exemption for outdoor concerts or festivals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Maryland noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.