Santa Clarita, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Santa Clarita, 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
- Applicable decibel table
- SCMC § 11.44.040(A)
- Residential day/night limit
- 65 dB / 55 dB
- Loud-party prima facie distance
- Audible at 50 feet
- Exempt equipment
- Emergency warning devices only
- Refusing shutoff order
- Separate offense
Summary
Santa Clarita doesn't set a separate decibel cap for speakers or PA systems: § 11.44.090 folds any use of sound-amplifying equipment straight into the zone-based limits already set for all noise, 65 dB by day and 55 dB by night in residential areas. A loud party built around amplified sound can also be shut down separately as a public nuisance.
§ 11.44.090. Special Noise Sources—Amplified Sound. The noise limits as described in Section 11.44.040(A) of this chapter shall apply to any use of sound-amplifying equipment. ... "Sound-amplifying equipment" shall mean any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music or any other sound, but shall not include: 1. Warning devices on emergency vehicles. 2. Horns, burglar and fire alarms, or other warning devices expressly authorized by law.
Full Breakdown
" That means a DJ system, outdoor speaker or PA rig is measured against the same table as any other noise source, 65 dB day and 55 dB night at a residential property line, 80/70 dB in commercial and manufacturing zones. 094(B), making refusal to comply a separate offense from the underlying noise violation. 060 adds a parallel rule for radios, phonographs and televisions, treating any reading more than 5 dB over the ambient limit at a residential property line as prima facie evidence of a violation.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the § 11.44.040 limits with amplified sound violates § 11.44.090 and is a misdemeanor under § 11.44.110 unless cited as an infraction, each day a separate offense. Refusing a law enforcement order to turn off amplified equipment at a loud party is a separate violation under § 11.44.094(B), and repeat responses can trigger cost reimbursement to the City under § 11.44.096.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a separate decibel limit for speakers or amplified music in Santa Clarita?
What counts as 'sound-amplifying equipment' under Santa Clarita's noise code?
Can police shut off a speaker system at a loud party in Santa Clarita?
How far away can amplified party noise be heard before it's a violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clarita
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clarita to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.