Santa Rosa, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Santa Rosa, 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
- Weekday/Saturday hours
- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday/holiday commercial use
- Prohibited entirely
- Sunday/holiday noncommercial use
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. only
- Decibel cap
- 15 dB above ambient base level
- Buffer zone
- 200 feet from churches, schools, hospitals
- Registration
- Filed with Police Department 3 days ahead
Summary
Santa Rosa limits amplified sound equipment to music or human speech, running only between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, with commercial amplified sound barred entirely on Sundays and holidays. Municipal Code Section 17-16.170 also caps the sound level at 15 decibels above the ambient base level and bans use within 200 feet of a church, school, or hospital.
§ 17-16.170. Regulations generally. The commercial and noncommercial use of sound-amplifying equipment shall be subject to the following regulations. (A) The only sounds permitted shall be either music or human speech, or both. (B) The operation of sound-amplifying equipment shall only occur between the hours of nine a.m. and six p.m. each day except on Sundays and legal holidays. No operation of sound-amplifying equipment for commercial purposes shall be permitted on Sundays or legal holidays. The operation of sound-amplifying equipment for noncommercial purposes on Sundays and legal holidays shall only occur between the hours of 10 a.m. and six p.m... (C) Sound level emanating from sound-amplifying equipment shall not exceed 15 decibels above the ambient base noise level. (D) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (C), sound-amplifying equipment shall not be operated within 200 feet of churches, schools or hospitals (see Section 17-16.100).
Full Breakdown
Article IV of Chapter 17-16 governs both commercial and noncommercial sound-amplifying equipment. m. The City Manager or a designee can waive these hour restrictions for a specific event found unlikely to cause an unreasonable disturbance to neighboring uses. 030, and subsection (D) creates a 200-foot buffer around churches, schools, and hospitals where amplified equipment can't run at all, regardless of the decibel reading. 170. 200.
Violations & Fines
Operating sound-amplifying equipment outside the permitted hours, over the 15-decibel-above-ambient cap, or within 200 feet of a school, church, or hospital violates Section 17-16.170 and is a misdemeanor under Section 17-16.050. Using equipment without an approved Police Department registration under Section 17-16.180 is a separate violation, and the City can disapprove or revoke a registration for noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a PA system at a Santa Rosa park on a Sunday?
How loud can amplified sound legally be in Santa Rosa?
Do I need City approval before using a loudspeaker at an event?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.