Snohomish County, WA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Snohomish County, WA, 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 rule
- SCC 10.01.040(1)(g)
- Outdoor threshold
- Audible 75+ feet from source
- Exemption permit fee
- $150, filed 45 days ahead
- Permit comment period
- 30 days, mailed to 500-ft radius
- First infraction fine
- $50
Summary
Amplified music heard inside a neighbor's home, or outdoors 75 feet or more from its source in a commercial, rural or residential district, is a public disturbance noise at any hour under SCC 10.01.040(1)(g). The rule covers band sessions, car stereos, and electronic sound gear.
(g) The creation, by use of a musical instrument, sound amplifier or other device capable of producing or reproducing sound, of sounds heard as comprehensible music rhythms or felt:
(i) Within a residence not originating the noise, or
(ii) Outdoors in a commercial, rural or residential district at a distance of 75 feet or more from the noise source. Such sounds include band sessions, automobile sound systems, and electronic sound reproduction equipment whether the source of the sound is stationary, portable, or in a motor vehicle.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through legislation passed August 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040(1)(g) singles out 'comprehensible music rhythms' created by a musical instrument, sound amplifier, or other sound-producing device as a public disturbance noise whenever it can be heard inside a residence that isn't the source, or outdoors in a commercial, rural, or residential district at a distance of 75 feet or more from the source. The rule expressly names band sessions, automobile sound systems, and electronic sound reproduction equipment, and applies whether the source is stationary, portable, or in a vehicle. 030, so a party can violate the amplified-music rule even if a sound meter reading would technically stay under the zone's dB(A) ceiling.
050(6): the application costs $150, must be filed at least 45 days before the event, requires posted on-site notice and mailed notice to property owners within 500 feet, and opens a 30-day public comment period before the administrator decides. Permits issued after comments run one year and can be renewed, and any streaming or repeat objections trigger the same public notice process again.
Violations & Fines
Amplified-music complaints are enforced by the sheriff's office as public disturbance noise under SCC 10.01.080(1) and (3). A first civil infraction is $50; a repeat violation of the same kind within one year rises to $100; and a second violation within 24 hours of the first is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Anyone with a valid public disturbance exemption permit under SCC 10.01.050(6) is not in violation so long as they stay within the permit's conditions on hours, location, and days of use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can I play music outdoors in Snohomish County?
Can I get a permit for a loud party or concert?
What's the penalty for playing music too loud?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Snohomish County
Compare Snohomish County to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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