Las Cruces, NM Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Las Cruces, NM, 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 window
- 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight only
- Maximum duration
- Three consecutive days per permit
- Application cost
- No fee to apply
- Issuing authority
- Chief of police
- Appeal deadline
- 30 days, to the city manager
Summary
Amplified music and sound equipment that would otherwise break Las Cruces's noise limits needs a temporary permit from the police chief. Section 19-134 lets an event run amplified sound between 7 a.m. and midnight for up to three consecutive days, but only after police weigh factors like distance to homes and neighbor objections.
(1)The chief of police may grant a temporary permit which allows noncompliance with the limitations prescribed in this article for the purpose of amplified sound activities of short duration. The issuance of such permits will be only for a time period between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight and shall not exceed three consecutive days.(2)Permits shall be granted upon application, at no cost to applicant, provided an initial investigation assures that the permit will not result in a condition unreasonably injurious to the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33 | Land Development Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Section 19-134 of the Code of Ordinances lets the chief of police issue a temporary permit allowing amplified sound activities that would otherwise violate the noise limitations in Division 2 of Chapter 19, including the general 30-foot audibility standard in Section 19-121 and the vehicle amplifier rule in Section 19-132. and 12:00 midnight and cannot exceed three consecutive days. There is no application fee. Before issuing a permit, police must investigate whether the activity would create a condition unreasonably injurious to the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others, weighing the proposed activity's distance from a residential zone, the number of amplification devices, their direction, how long the activity will run, whether it is indoors or outdoors, and whether adjacent property owners approve or object.
An approved permit specifies the place, duration and any site-specific restrictions. Police can demand the permit be surrendered on the spot if the holder violates its duration limit, and a resident complaint or a prior surrender can be grounds to deny a later reapplication. An applicant denied a permit, or ordered to surrender one, can appeal to the city manager by filing a written petition within 30 days; the city manager's decision on that appeal is final. Operating amplified sound beyond permitted limits without this authorization exposes the organizer to the Section 19-133 noise penalties: a petty misdemeanor with a fine of $100 to $500 and up to 90 days in jail.
Violations & Fines
Amplified sound run without a valid Section 19-134 permit, or beyond its time, place or duration limits, is punished under Section 19-133 as a petty misdemeanor: a fine of not less than $100, which cannot be suspended, up to $500, plus up to 90 days in jail. Officers may also demand immediate surrender of a permit already issued if its terms are violated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a concert or amplified event in Las Cruces?
How long can an amplified sound permit last?
What happens if my amplified sound permit is denied?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Las Cruces
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