Santa Barbara County, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Events (2026)

Amplified music is the central target of Santa Barbara County's Chapter 40, 'Nighttime Noise Restrictions.' 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. The ordinance applies during the protected nighttime hours: 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and midnight to 7:00 a.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. 6-70.01, 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. 4) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. These are County ordinances for unincorporated areas; incorporated cities have their own amplified-sound rules.