Santa Barbara, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Events (2026)

The City of Santa Barbara regulates amplified sound in SBMC Section 9.16.080 (Sound Amplification) — its own ordinance, not the county's. Only music or the human voice (or both) may be amplified; other amplified sound is prohibited. Amplified sound from any public park or place may not exceed the ambient level so as to be audible inside any hospital, rest home, convalescent hospital or church while services are conducted. The volume of amplified sound may not exceed 60 dB(A) when measured outdoors at or beyond the property line of the property from which the sound emanates, and may not exceed 45 dB(A) when measured inside a neighboring building used for residential purposes (the limit does not apply to the dwelling unit producing the sound). Separately, Section 9.16.030(A)(2) makes it unlawful to use any loudspeaker or loudspeaker system between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. so as to create a noise disturbance audible across a residential real property line — a window extended to 1:30 a.m. on the night before New Year's Day. The general 50-foot 'plainly audible' rule in Section 9.16.020 also applies. The sound-amplification limits do not apply to events sponsored or approved by the City, the County (where a sound-control plan exists), schools, colleges or other public entities on their own property, which operate under their permit conditions instead.