Lakewood, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Lakewood, 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
- Amplified sound curfew
- 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Governing provision
- TSEP condition, Section 9432(C)(9)(g)
- Companion decibel standard
- 60 dB(A) at residential line, Sec. 9376.1
- Field enforcement
- LA County Sheriff (contract police services)
- Suspension authority
- Director, Sheriff, or County Fire Chief
- Hearing request window
- 15 calendar days after suspension notice
Summary
Amplified music, sound reinforcement, and outdoor public address systems at any permitted Lakewood special event are limited to the 15-hour window between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Section 9432 makes that curfew one of the standard conditions the Community Development Director attaches to every Temporary Special Event Permit, alongside separate limits on maximum attendance and general sound attenuation.
9. TSEP conditions. The Community Development Director shall take into consideration all relevant information when determining the approval or disapproval and any necessary conditions for a requested TSEP to operate, including the following: ... (c) Conditions of operation: Specify hours of operation, maximum attendance, and sound attenuation requirements. List operational contingencies for inclement weather. ... (g) Noise. Any applicant requests to play or broadcast amplified music or a public address system outside shall be limited to the hours between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4901715; v5 updated 2026-04-28; through 04-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
operating window, separate from the general condition requiring 'sound attenuation requirements' for the event as a whole. 1 caps continuous noise reaching residential property at 60 decibels measured on the A-scale, a rule enforced against fixed mechanical and amplified sources alike regardless of any event permit. at a permitted event go to Sheriff's deputies patrolling under the city's law-enforcement services contract, or to the Community Development Director during business hours for the underlying permit violation. The Director, the Sheriff, or the County Fire Chief can summarily suspend a TSEP, including its noise conditions, if continued operation threatens public health, safety, or welfare, with a written notice issued to the permit holder and a right to an administrative hearing if the holder requests one within 15 calendar days.
A permit that keeps violating its noise condition is grounds for outright revocation under Section 9432(D)(3), which lists 'violation of any permit condition' among the specified causes.
Violations & Fines
Playing amplified music or a PA system outside the 7 a.m.-10 p.m. window violates the TSEP's own condition under Section 9432(C)(9)(g), giving the Director, Sheriff, or County Fire Chief grounds to suspend the permit under Section 9432(E) and revoke it under Section 9432(D)(3) for continued noncompliance. Absent a specific penalty, violating permit conditions falls to the citywide misdemeanor clause in Section 1200: a fine up to the state misdemeanor maximum, up to six months in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a permitted Lakewood event play amplified music after 10 p.m.?
Does the 7 a.m.-10 p.m. rule apply to noise from a backyard party, not just permitted events?
Who do I call if a permitted street event's music is too loud in Lakewood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
California rules heatmap·Compare Lakewood to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.