Santa Barbara County, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Santa Barbara County, 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
- Governing section
- County Code Sec. 40-2
- Decibel threshold
- 60 dBA at the property line
- Distance test
- Clearly discernible 100 feet from property line
- Protected hours
- 10 p.m.-7 a.m. (Sun-Thu); midnight-7 a.m. (Fri/Sat)
- Isla Vista festival rule
- Sec. 6-70.01 (6 p.m.-7 a.m. on set dates)
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Santa Barbara County
Summary
County Code Sec. 40-2 prohibits loud, unreasonable amplified music broadcast outdoors at night in the unincorporated county. Loud and unreasonable sound is defined as clearly discernible 100 feet from the property line or exceeding 60 decibels at the property line. Isla Vista has added festival restrictions.
No loud or unreasonable noise or music can be broadcast outside of any residence or building by musical instruments, drums, speakers, radios, or any other device that reproduces or broadcasts sounds.
Full Breakdown
' Section 40-2 ('Noises prohibited') makes it unlawful in the unincorporated area to make or permit any loud and unreasonable noise, music, percussion or other sound broadcast outside a residence or building by amplified musical instruments, drums, radios, loudspeakers, sound amplifiers, phonographs or similar devices. m. on Friday and Saturday. A 'loud and unreasonable' sound is defined as one that is clearly discernible at a distance of 100 feet from the property line, or that is at any level in excess of 60 decibels at the edge of the property line.
In the dense student community of Isla Vista, additional County rules apply: under Sec. 01, amplified music audible from the public right-of-way is prohibited during specified high-risk periods (the first Friday-Sunday of UCSB's Spring Quarter and the Halloween window of Oct. 26-Nov. m. These are County ordinances for unincorporated areas; incorporated cities have their own amplified-sound rules.
Violations & Fines
Outdoor amplified music exceeding 60 dBA at the property line, or discernible 100 feet away, during protected nighttime hours violates Sec. 40-2 and is enforced by the Sheriff's Office. In Isla Vista, violating the festival music restrictions in Sec. 6-70.01 is an infraction, and music equipment used in violation may be seized as evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can outdoor amplified music be at night in the county?
Are there extra music rules in Isla Vista?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Barbara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Barbara County to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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