Penn Hills, PA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Penn Hills, PA, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- Nighttime audibility limit
- 50 feet from property line, 10pm-6am
- Vehicle audibility limit
- 50 feet, any time of day
- Standard applied
- louder than needed for voluntary listeners
- Max fine
- $1,000 per offense
Summary
Penn Hills caps radios, stereos and other amplified sound devices played louder than needed for voluntary listeners in the room or vehicle using them.
any radio, CD player, television set, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device designed or intended to produce or reproduce sound to create excessive noise to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of residential inhabitants with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing by the person or persons who are in the room, vehicle, or chamber in which such machine or device is operating and who are voluntary listeners thereto. The operating of any such machine or device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the residential property line or anytime at a distance of 50 feet from a vehicle in which it is located, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
(2) Loudspeakers and/or Amplifiers Upon Public Streets. Use or operation of or permitting the use or operation of any radio, CD player, television set, musical instrument, phonograph, loudspeaker, sound amplifier or other machine or device audible upon the public streets for the purpose of commercial advertising or attracting the attention of the public to anything or activity, or to any building or structure.
(3)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4434863; v5 updated 2025-07-21; through 07-21-2025).
Full Breakdown
Municipality of Penn Hills Code § 636.02(b)(1) makes it unlawful to operate a radio, CD player, TV, musical instrument, phonograph or similar device at volume beyond what's necessary for convenient hearing by voluntary listeners in the room, vehicle or chamber where it's playing. Running such a device between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. audible at 50 feet from the residential property line, or at any time audible 50 feet from a vehicle, is prima facie evidence of a violation.
Violations & Fines
Enforced under Municipality of Penn Hills Code § 636.06: police issue a verbal warning first; continued or repeated violation brings a citation and, on conviction, a fine up to $1,000 plus up to 30 days imprisonment for nonpayment. Each day is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a fixed decibel limit for radios in Penn Hills?
Does the 50-foot rule apply to car stereos too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Penn Hills
Compare Penn Hills to another location·View the Pennsylvania noise ordinances overview
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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Allegheny County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.