Amplified music rules in Madison, WI — also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances — set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Amplified music in Madison is tightly regulated under MGO Chapter 24, especially in the downtown and UW-Madison campus area. Sound audible beyond 50 feet or across property lines after 10 PM is presumptively a violation.
Madison General Ordinances Chapter 24 and MGO 24.04 address sound-amplifying devices including speakers, live bands, DJ equipment, and car stereos. In residential zones, amplified sound that is audible at or beyond the property line after 10 PM violates the ordinance. Downtown near State Street, Langdon Street, and Mifflin Street (all heavily student-populated areas), enforcement is especially active during weekends and football Saturdays. Outdoor amplified events require a Noise Variance from the City Clerk; fees and approval conditions apply. Car stereos audible at 50+ feet are separately cited under MGO 12.76 (motor vehicle noise). Bars with outdoor patios must keep amplified sound at levels that do not disturb residents. Mifflin Street Block Party and other large events operate under specific event permits with amplified-sound conditions.
Citations typically 187 dollars; higher for repeat offenders. Vehicle sound system violations start around 124 dollars.
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