Rancho Cordova, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Rancho Cordova, CA, 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 trigger
- audible 100 feet away
- Hearing standard
- 0-25 dB HL at 500/1,000/2,000 Hz
- First-offense fine
- up to $50
- Repeat-offense fine
- up to $250
- Warning required before citation
- yes
- Licensed events exempt
- assemblies, festivals, parades
Summary
RCMC § 6.68.145 bans amplified music, radios or other audio devices on any city-owned property, park or place once the sound is audible 100 feet away to a person of normal hearing. A first violation is an infraction fined up to $50.00, rising to $250.00 for repeats within a year, and officers must first warn the offender.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this code and in addition thereto, it is unlawful for any person to permit or cause any noise, sound, music or program to be emitted from any radio, tape player, tape recorder, record player, television or other audio device outdoors on or in any publicly owned property, park or place when such noise, sound, music or program is audible to a person of normal hearing sensitivity 100 feet from said radio, tape player, tape recorder, record player, television or other audio device. ... any person violating this section shall be guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction thereof, is punishable by a fine not exceeding $50.00 for a first violation, a fine not exceeding $100.00 for a second violation of this section within one year, and a fine not exceeding $250.00 for each additional violation of this section within one year.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).
Full Breakdown
145 targets amplified or broadcast sound on land the city owns rather than sound generally: it is unlawful to permit or cause noise, sound, music or a program from a radio, tape player, tape recorder, record player, television or other audio device to be emitted outdoors on any publicly owned property, park or place when the sound is audible to a 'person of normal hearing sensitivity' 100 feet away. The section defines that standard precisely, a hearing threshold between zero and 25 decibels HL averaged across the 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Hertz frequencies, so enforcement is not left to an officer's subjective judgment.
Before any citation or notice to appear can be issued, subsection (C) requires that a peace officer, public officer, park ranger or other enforcing employee first give the offending party a verbal or written notification and a chance to correct the violation. 020, or any other city-permitted activity fall outside this section entirely. 150 bars any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise that disturbs a neighborhood generally.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of RCMC § 6.68.145 is an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding $50.00, a second violation within one year up to $100.00, and each additional violation within that year up to $250.00. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. No citation may issue until the offending party has first been warned and given an opportunity to correct the noise, per subsection (C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play amplified music in a Rancho Cordova park?
Does the city have to warn me before ticketing me for loud music?
What's the fine for violating Rancho Cordova's public-property sound rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cordova to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.