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Lewis County, WA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Amplified music rules in Lewis 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

Curfew window
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Covers
Audio systems, band sessions, social gatherings
Proof standard
No decibel meter required
Permit exception
Music festival permits under Ch. 5.15 LCC
First offense
$50 Class 4 civil infraction
Enforcing agency
Sheriff's office and code enforcement

Summary

Unincorporated Lewis County restricts amplified sound from buildings, band sessions and audio systems to daytime hours: sound heard from the public roadway between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is a prohibited public disturbance under LCC § 1.23.030(1)(d), enforced without any decibel test.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Lewis County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The creation of frequent, repetitive or continuous sounds which emanate from any building, structure, apartment or condominium, such as sounds from audio sound systems, band sessions or social gatherings that can be heard from the public roadway, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.;

View official code

Full Breakdown

23's public disturbance noise rules (Ord. 1311, 2019), targets amplified and group sound at its source rather than by decibel level. m. 040(2) confirms a sound-level meter reading is not required to prove the case. 50 LCC, meaning a permitted outdoor concert or festival is not automatically a violation even if it runs loud and late. 040(3).

Violations & Fines

A first amplified-sound violation of § 1.23.030 is a Class 4 civil infraction carrying a $50 penalty plus statutory assessments under § 1.23.040(1)(a). A second violation within 12 months is a Class 2 infraction at $125, and a third or later violation in the same year is a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000, 90 days in jail, or both, under § 1.23.040(1)(c).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Lewis County set a decibel limit for amplified music?
No. LCC § 1.23.030(1)(d) does not use a decibel threshold. It bans audio sound systems, band sessions or social gathering noise that emanates from a building and can be heard from the public roadway between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., judged by whether it unreasonably disturbs a neighbor's peace and repose.
Can I run amplified music at a permitted outdoor event past 10 p.m. in unincorporated Lewis County?
Possibly. Section 1.23.030(2)(e) exempts sound from activities approved through a county special use permit or a music festival permit under Chapter 5.15 LCC, so a properly permitted event is not automatically a public disturbance violation even if the amplified sound runs into the curfew hours.
What proof does Lewis County need to cite amplified music as a noise violation?
None from a sound meter. Section 1.23.040(2) states evidence of a sound-level meter reading is not necessary to establish the offense, so an account that the music was audible from the roadway and disturbed a neighbor's peace between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is enough.
What happens on a second amplified-sound complaint within a year?
It escalates. Section 1.23.040(1)(b) makes a second violation of § 1.23.030 within 12 months a Class 2 civil infraction carrying a $125 penalty, up from the $50 first-offense fine, and it does not need to follow after the first violation is proven in court.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lewis County

Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsConstruction HoursSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsVehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Groomer RulesFew RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: MicrochippingSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Breed RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions

All Lewis County rules

Compare Lewis County to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview

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