Middletown, OH Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Middletown's General Offenses Code bars generating or permitting "unreasonable noise or loud sound which is likely to cause inconvenience or annoyance to persons of ordinary sensibilities" by radio, phonograph, television, tape or disc player, loudspeaker or other sound-amplifying device, or by horn, drum, piano or other musical or percussion instrument (§ 648.09(a)). The ordinance creates two prima facie violations: sound from those devices on private property between 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in a predominantly residential area that is audible more than 80 feet from the source property's line, regardless of any existing nonconforming use or variance (§ 648.09(b)(1)); and sound on a street, highway or public right-of-way audible 100 feet from the device (§ 648.09(b)(2)).

Holders of a current parade permit under Chapter 644 are exempt from the street/right-of-way provision. Property owners, possessors or those in control of a premises, whether their control is exclusive or joint, may not permit a violation on that property (§ 648.09(c)). Warning or alarm devices licensed under Chapter 819 of the Business Regulation and Taxation Code are exempt (§ 648.09(d)). This section governs amplified/instrumental sound specifically; general unreasonable noise on private property not covered here falls instead under § 648.11's decibel-based standard.