Reno, NV Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Reno, NV, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- No-permit limit
- 50 decibels within 50 feet
- Permitted limit
- 75 decibels at boundary
- Requires
- Sound amplification permit
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor
- Applies to
- Parks and outdoor recreation facilities
Summary
Reno limits sound amplification devices and sound equipment in city parks and outdoor recreation facilities to 50 decibels within 50 feet without a permit, and 75 decibels at the permitted area's boundary even with one.
It shall be unlawful to use sound amplification devices or sound equipment in any parks and outdoor recreation facilities in excess of 50 decibels measured within 50 feet from the location of the sound amplification device or sound equipment, without first obtaining a sound amplification permit. Even with a permit, sound amplification device or sound equipment shall not exceed 75 decibels at the boundaries of the permitted area. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Administrative Code: Supplement 64 | Land Development Code: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Reno Municipal Code § 8.23.085 caps sound amplification devices and sound equipment in city parks and outdoor recreation facilities at 50 decibels, measured within 50 feet of the device, unless the user first obtains a sound amplification permit. Even with a permit, volume cannot exceed 75 decibels at the boundary of the permitted area. The rule sits in RMC Chapter 8.23 (Parks and Recreation Facilities), so it governs concerts, DJs and PA systems inside Reno's park system specifically; amplified sound elsewhere in the city falls under the separate general nuisance-noise rule at RMC § 8.04.010, which bars sound amplifiers on public streets without city council permission. Violating § 8.23.085 is a misdemeanor.
Violations & Fines
Running amplified sound above 50 decibels within 50 feet without a park permit, or above 75 decibels at a permitted area's boundary, is a misdemeanor under RMC § 8.23.085.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a speaker or PA system in a Reno park?
What's the limit if I already have a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reno
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