Tempe, AZ Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Tempe, AZ, also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances, set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 20-7(a)
- Permit lead time
- 10 days before use
- Curfew for permits
- 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. barred
- Buffer from sensitive uses
- 50 feet from school/church/hospital
- Civil fine range
- $100–$1,000
Summary
Tempe requires a temporary permit from the Special Events Task Force before anyone runs a loudspeaker or sound-amplifying device in a residential zone on public property. Permits are barred outright between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and applications must go to the Special Events Office at least 10 days ahead.
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than law enforcement personnel or government agencies acting within the scope of their employment, to install, use or operate within any residential zone of the City, a loudspeaker or sound-amplifying device or equipment in a fixed or movable position, on public property including any public right-of-way, without first obtaining a temporary permit from the special events task force.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Code: Supplement 33 Update 4 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 11 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
General Code Sec. 20-7(a) makes it unlawful, outside of law enforcement or government agencies, to install, use, or operate a loudspeaker or sound-amplifying device in a fixed or movable position on public property in any residential zone without a temporary permit from the special events task force. Applicants must submit a complete special events permit application to the City Special Events Office at least 10 days before the proposed use, stating the specific location, date, and hours. m. Sec. , activities preempted by state or federal law, and City-permitted outdoor gatherings such as festivals or parades.
In non-residential zones, Sec. 20-7(b) separately bars noise adjacent to an in-use school, church, or hospital that unreasonably interferes with the institution's operation or unduly disturbs patients, where conspicuous signage marks the location.
Violations & Fines
Operating a loudspeaker or amplified sound system without the required permit, or outside its approved hours, is a Chapter 20 violation subject to the civil fine schedule in Sec. 20-15: not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, plus a $50 default penalty for a missed court date. A third violation within 24 months elevates the offense to a criminal misdemeanor under Sec. 20-18, prosecutable by the Tempe City Prosecutor in Tempe Municipal Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to play amplified music at a residential event in Tempe?
Is there a curfew on amplified sound permits in Tempe?
What happens after three amplified-sound violations in Tempe?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tempe
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