Lynnwood, WA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Lynnwood, 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
- Residential zones
- Loudspeakers/amplifiers banned outright
- Other zones
- Permit required from mayor's office
- Permit conditions
- Time, area and volume limits
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor (LMC 10.12.800)
- Last amended
- Ord. 2076 § 1, 1996
Summary
Lynnwood bans loudspeakers and amplifiers outright in residential-zoned districts under LMC 10.12.300(D). Anywhere else, projecting amplified sound above ambient level beyond the property line requires a permit from the mayor's office, which can restrict the time, area and volume allowed.
The reasonable use of loudspeaker or amplifier is permitted; provided, that no loudspeaker or amplifier shall be used in residential-zoned districts; and provided, that no person shall use any loudspeaker, amplifier, or similar device which shall project sound above the ambient level beyond the property lines of the premises upon which it is being used without first obtaining a permit from the office of the mayor to do so. In issuing a permit, the office of the mayor may impose such restrictions on time, area and volume as are necessary to preserve the public peace and safety.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3512, passed May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
300(D), titled Use of Loudspeakers, opens by permitting the reasonable use of a loudspeaker or amplifier, but two provisos narrow that permission sharply. First, no loudspeaker or amplifier may be used at all in residential-zoned districts, regardless of volume or permit status. Second, in non-residential zones, anyone using a loudspeaker, amplifier or similar device that projects sound above the ambient level beyond the property lines of the premises must first obtain a permit from the office of the mayor. When the mayor's office issues that permit, it may impose restrictions on time, area and volume as necessary to preserve the public peace and safety, giving the city discretion to tailor conditions to the event or business.
The subsection was last amended by Ord. 2076 in 1996, building on the original 1982 noise chapter (Ord. 1275). 500, since amplified music that carries across a residential property boundary is exactly the kind of noise those sections are written to catch.
Violations & Fines
A conviction for violating LMC 10.12.300, which includes the loudspeaker subsection, is a misdemeanor under LMC 10.12.800. The Lynnwood Police Department enforces noise disturbances under LMC 10.12.700(A); the development and business services department separately enforces noise from commercial and industrial sources under LMC 10.12.700(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play amplified music at an outdoor event in Lynnwood?
Is a loudspeaker ever allowed in a Lynnwood residential neighborhood?
What if I skip the permit and a neighbor complains about amplified sound?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynnwood
Compare Lynnwood to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.