Westminster, CA Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)
Amplified music rules in Westminster, 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
- Zone 1 exterior limit
- 55 dB(A), day and night
- Zone 2 exterior limit
- 60 dB(A) day, 55 dB(A) night
- Music/speech reduction
- Standard cut by 5 dB(A)
- Zone 2 area
- R2, R3, R4, R5 residential districts
- Variance appeal
- County noise variance board, then city council
Summary
Westminster caps outdoor sound at 55 dB(A) around the clock in most of the city (Noise Zone 1) and 60 dB(A) by day and 55 dB(A) at night in R2-R5 residential zones (Noise Zone 2), then cuts every limit by an extra 5 dB(A) when the offending sound is music, speech, or another tonal noise.
The following noise standards, unless otherwise specifically indicated, shall apply to all residential property within a designated noise zone: EXTERIOR NOISE STANDARDS Noise Zone Noise Level Time Period 1 55 dB(A) 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. 55 dB(A) 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. 2 60 dB(A) 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. 55 dB(A) 10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. ... In the event the alleged offensive noise consists entirely of impact noise, simple tone noise, speech, music, or any combination thereof, each of the above noise levels shall be reduced by 5dB(A). ... It is unlawful for any person at any location within the incorporated area of the city to create any noise, or to allow the creation of any noise, on property owned, leased, occupied, or otherwise controlled by such person, when the foregoing causes the noise level, when measured on any other residential property, to exceed: 1. The noise standard for a cumulative period of more than thirty minutes in any hour.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4982734; v10 updated 2026-06-10).
Full Breakdown
030). in Zone 1, and 60 dB(A) daytime with 55 dB(A) nighttime in Zone 2; where the alleged offensive noise is impact noise, simple tone noise, speech or music, each standard drops by 5 dB(A). It is unlawful to exceed the standard for more than 30 minutes in any hour, the standard plus 5 dB(A) for more than 15 minutes, plus 10 dB(A) for more than five minutes, plus 15 dB(A) for more than one minute, or plus 20 dB(A) at all, measured on the affected residential property. 050 sets parallel interior standards. except Sundays and federal holidays. 080).
Violations & Fines
Violating the chapter is a declared public nuisance punishable under the citywide general penalty, Section 1.12.010: a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail, or, at the city attorney's discretion, an infraction with fines of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for each further offense, with every day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can outdoor music legally be at my Westminster home?
Are backyard parties with a permit exempt from the noise limits?
What can happen if my amplified music exceeds Westminster's limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
California rules heatmap·Compare Westminster to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle amplified music & outdoor sound.