Sherman, TX Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Section 8.07.003(b)(2) of the Sherman Code of Ordinances, adopted by the City Council as Ordinance 6216 on 5/20/19, regulates radios, television sets, musical instruments, loudspeaking amplifiers and similar devices. It reaches any sound production or reproduction device, from a radio to drums to a loudspeaker, and it works through the code's "noise disturbance" standard: a sound that annoys or disturbs a reasonable, prudent adult or interferes with public peace and comfort.

The code sets clock hours only in two places. Inside a quiet zone, any such activity is a noise disturbance per se between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and between 11:30 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. A quiet zone is any territory adjacent to or within 500 feet of the nearest property line of a residential district, or of real property holding a school, college, hospital, clinic, library or other noise-sensitive facility. "Per se" means no extra evidence is needed to establish the disturbance. Outdoors in the mapped part of Historic Downtown Sherman, amplified sound is barred between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., and subparagraph (F) reaches sound from an indoor source that carries outdoors into that area. Acoustic, non-amplified instruments do not create a disturbance there between 10:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Elsewhere the test is the disturbance standard itself. Nonresidential areas, sound used to attract attention to a cause, show or sale, and sound on trucks or other moving vehicles are all prohibited when they cause a noise disturbance.

Relief is available. The assistant city manager can grant a variance for undue hardship under § 8.07.006, or a special events noise variance for events not exceeding seven days, with a fee set by the council. Parades and public events receive an automatic variance. A denied applicant has ten days to request a hearing before the city manager. Section 8.07.005 also exempts sound from lawfully scheduled permitted events and reasonable park and school-ground activity from 7:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m.