Orange County, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Events (2026)

Amplified music gets stricter treatment than general noise. Under Section 4-6-5 of the Codified Ordinances, the baseline exterior residential limits are 55 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 50 dB(A) from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. But the ordinance specifies that when the offending noise 'consists entirely of impact noise, simple tone noise, speech, music, or any combination thereof,' each limit is reduced by 5 dB(A). Music therefore must stay under roughly 50 dB(A) during the day and 45 dB(A) at night when measured on neighboring residential property. The same 5 dB(A) reduction applies to interior measurements under Section 4-6-6, lowering the interior music limit to 50 dB(A) by day and 40 dB(A) at night. Section 4-6-5(b) also sets graduated time limits: the standard may be exceeded by 5 dB(A) for no more than 15 minutes an hour, 10 dB(A) for no more than 5 minutes, 15 dB(A) for no more than 1 minute, and may never be exceeded by 20 dB(A) for any period. Organized 'outdoor gatherings, public dances and shows' are exempt only if conducted under a County license issued pursuant to Title 5 of the Codified Ordinances (Section 4-6-7(b)).