Novi, MI Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Novi, MI, 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 hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Covers
- commercial loudspeakers, PA systems, public spaces
- Governing section
- City Code § 22-96(c)(2)
- Noncommercial speech
- unamplified use allowed by permit, § 22-96(d)(5)
- Penalty
- misdemeanor default, up to 90 days/$500
Summary
Commercial loudspeakers and public address systems on Novi's public roads and public spaces are barred between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. under City Code § 22-96(c)(2). A non-commercial amplified message can still be an issue at other hours if it otherwise creates a noise disturbance under the same chapter's general rule.
(c)Specific prohibitions. In addition to the general prohibition, and unless otherwise exempted by this chapter, the following specific acts, or the causing or permitting thereof, are limited as follows: ... (2)Operating, or permitting the operation of, any loudspeaker, public address system, or similar device for any commercial purpose, on any public road or in any public space between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Full Breakdown
Section 22-96(c)(2) singles out loudspeakers and public address systems used for a commercial purpose on public roads or in public spaces, banning their operation between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. regardless of volume, so the rule is a flat curfew rather than a decibel test for that category of equipment. The broader "noise disturbance" definition in subsection (a), covering sound that disturbs a reasonable person or is plainly audible 100 feet from the property line, still applies to amplified sound generated any time of day or from private property.
Subsection (d)(5) creates a narrow carve-out for non-amplified noncommercial public speaking under a permit, but amplified public-address use from a fixed location isn't among the listed exemptions, meaning most amplified outdoor announcements or music on public property must stop by 10:00 p.m. Section 22-99 separately addresses amplified sound systems mounted in or on vehicles, including a city council permit process for noncommercial amplified messages broadcast from a car, so a business running amplified promotional audio from a parked truck on a public street falls under both § 22-96(c)(2)'s hours and, if vehicle-mounted, § 22-99's separate audibility and permit rules.
No penalty is stated in § 22-96 itself, so the citywide default in § 1-11 applies: a misdemeanor with up to 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine per day of violation.
Violations & Fines
Operating a commercial loudspeaker or PA system on a public road or in a public space between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. violates § 22-96(c)(2), which carries the citywide default penalty in § 1-11: a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine, with each day of the violation charged separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business run an outdoor PA system at night in Novi?
Is there a way to use amplified sound for a public event at night?
What's the difference between § 22-96 and § 22-99 for amplified sound?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Novi
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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Oakland County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.