Pinal County, AZ Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Pinal County, AZ, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- Audibility limit
- 125 feet from property line
- Covered sources
- Radio, phonograph, instrument, sound system
- Time restriction
- None, applies at any time
- Applies to
- Homes and businesses alike
- Backup standard
- Zoning dBA table in Sec. 10-24
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor or $750/day civil fine
Summary
Unincorporated Pinal County bans any radio, phonograph, musical instrument or other sound-producing mechanism from being audible more than 125 feet from the property line or vehicle where it sits, under County Code Section 10-25, and the rule runs at any time of day for homeowners and businesses alike.
It shall be unlawful for any person, including the owner or manager of any business, to operate or permit to be operated any radio receiving set, phonograph, musical instrument, and sound-producing mechanism, at any time in such a manner as to permit the same to be heard at a distance of more than 125 feet from the property line or motor vehicle where such radio receiving set, phonograph, and/or sound-producing mechanism is located.
Full Breakdown
Section 10-25 reaches 'any person, including the owner or manager of any business,' so a backyard party, a car stereo and a commercial sound system are all covered on the same terms. ' The 125-foot test is measured from the property line, or, for a parked vehicle, from the vehicle itself, so a loud car radio is treated the same as a patio speaker. This distance test layers on top of the separate excessive-noise standard in Section 10-24, which caps ambient sound by zoning district, 60 to 70 dBA depending on the district and time of day, so a sound source can violate the ordinance either by carrying past 125 feet or by exceeding the applicable zone's dBA ceiling, whichever the county measures.
The chapter applies only in the unincorporated county under Section 10-19, so incorporated cities such as Florence, Casa Grande, the City of Maricopa, Apache Junction, Coolidge and Eloy are not covered by this section and set their own rules. S. S. 05.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Section 10-25 is treated the same as any other excessive-noise offense under Section 10-28: a public nuisance chargeable as a Class 1 misdemeanor disorderly-conduct offense under A.R.S. Section 13-2904, with each day the sound continues counted as a separate offense, or a civil infraction fined up to $750.00 per violation. The county attorney, code compliance manager, board of supervisors, or a neighboring property owner especially damaged by the sound may also seek an injunction or abatement order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can I play music at a backyard party in unincorporated Pinal County?
Does the 125-foot rule apply to car stereos?
Is there a decibel number instead of a distance test?
What can happen if I get cited for loud music?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pinal County
Compare Pinal County to another location·View the Arizona noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.