St. Tammany Parish, LA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in St. Tammany Parish, LA, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- Residential daytime cap
- 65 dB(A), 7 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays
- Residential nighttime cap
- 60 dB(A), 9 p.m.-7 a.m. weekdays
- Impulsive sound allowance
- extra 10 dB(A) permitted
- Measurement method
- mean of 3 readings at dwelling
- Penalty
- $100-$500 fine or up to 30 days jail
Summary
St. Tammany Parish treats amplified music and sound equipment as a factor in its general noise nuisance ordinance. Sec. 26-111 tells the enforcing agency to weigh amplification when investigating a complaint, and the zoning-based dB(A) ceilings in Sec. 26-113 set the actual numeric limit an amplified source cannot exceed.
It is hereby declared that at certain levels, sounds may be detrimental to the health, safety and well-being of the citizenry. Therefore, the parish prohibits sounds that constitute a nuisance, as defined in section 26-1(4) and (5), and illustrated in section 26-2(5) and (6). In the investigation and enforcement of the provisions relating to sound, consideration shall be given to the time, place and manner or nature of the sound complained of (i.e., emergency work, impulsive sound or amplification). Additionally, to aid the enforcing agency in determining if the particular sound constitutes a nuisance as defined in section 26-1(4) and (5), and illustrated in section 26-2(5) and (6), definitions and decibel levels are established in the following sections of this article.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
St. Tammany Parish regulates amplified sound as part of its general noise nuisance ordinance in Chapter 26, Article IV. Sec. , emergency work, impulsive sound or amplification)" before deciding whether an amplified source, such as outdoor speakers, a PA system, or amplified live music, rises to the level of a prohibited nuisance under Sec. 26-1(4) and (5) and Sec. 26-2(5) and (6). Once a complaint is under review, the parish applies the numeric dB(A) ceilings in Sec. weekends) or 60 dB(A) at night. across the full week.
Industrial districts (I-1, I-2, I-3, SWM-1, SWM-2, AML) top out at 75 dB(A) daytime and 65 dB(A) nighttime. Sec. 26-113(a) allows an extra ten dB(A) for impulsive sounds, and under Sec. 26-113(b) readings are taken as three measurements at the complaining party's dwelling, with the mean of the three setting the official decibel count used for enforcement.
Violations & Fines
Amplified sound that pushes a nuisance complaint over the applicable dB(A) ceiling is a misdemeanor under Sec. 26-9, punishable by a fine of $100 to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both. Each day the excessive amplified sound continues is charged as a separate offense, and the parish can still order the underlying condition corrected regardless of the fine imposed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does St. Tammany Parish have a specific amplified-music permit?
How is an amplified-sound complaint measured?
Are there different amplified-sound rules at night?
What happens if amplified sound is found to violate the code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Tammany Parish
Compare St. Tammany Parish to another location·View the Louisiana noise ordinances overview
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