Amplified music rules in Sunnyvale, CA — also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances — set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Amplified music audible beyond a property line after 10 PM violates Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 19.48. Outdoor entertainment at commercial venues requires a special event permit from the city.
Sunnyvale regulates amplified sound through the general noise ordinance in Chapter 19.48. Music, DJs, karaoke, and live bands that are plainly audible at a neighboring property or more than 50 feet from a commercial establishment after 10 PM on weeknights (11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays for permitted venues) are subject to citation. House parties in neighborhoods near El Camino, Murphy Avenue, and Santa Clara Square generate the majority of complaints. First offenses typically receive a warning but repeated calls within a short window can lead to an administrative citation, loud-party response fees, and in some cases a charge for the cost of the second police response. Downtown venues on Murphy Avenue operate under conditional use permits that specify their outdoor music cutoff times.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
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