Amplified music rules in Yakima, WA — also called sound permit, PA system, or live music ordinances — set decibel limits, time-of-day restrictions, and when permits are required.
Yakima regulates amplified music through two layers. YMC Chapter 6.04 public-disturbance-noise standard applies to any amplified sound that by its intensity, volume, frequency, duration or character unreasonably disturbs others. For permitted outdoor events, the City of Yakima Special Event Permit Guidelines impose a hard cap of 95 dB measured at the property line over a sustained 10-minute period and limit outdoor music to between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (with exceptions approved by the City Manager).
Yakima layers three enforcement frameworks for amplified sound. First, YMC Chapter 6.04 (Offenses Against Public Order and Peace) prohibits public disturbance noise - including amplified music, radios, phonographs, and sound-magnifying devices - that by intensity, volume, frequency, duration or character unreasonably disturbs the peace, comfort and repose of others. Second, WAC 173-60-040 imposes the statewide receiving-property dBA caps (55 dBA day / 45 dBA night for Class A residential receiving property, with the 10 dBA nighttime reduction between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.) where YMC is silent on numeric limits. Third, the City of Yakima Special Event and Parade Permit Guidelines (administered under YMC Chapter 9.70 Special Events - Parades) impose specific conditions on permitted outdoor events: 'no event shall exceed a maximum decibel limit of 95dB measured at the property line over a sustained period of ten minutes,' and 'outdoor music and entertainment shall be limited to performing between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.,' with exceptions available if recommended by the Planning Division and approved by the City Manager. Major recurring Yakima outdoor / amplified events - including Central Washington State Fair (concerts at the Yakima Valley SunDome on the Fairgrounds), Downtown Summer Nights, Hot Shots Concert Series, and Fresh Hop Ale Festival - operate under special event permits administered through the City's Special Event process. The Yakima Valley SunDome itself (a 6,195-seat indoor arena at State Fair Park) hosts indoor concerts that fall under the YMC 6.04 standard at the property line. Bars and restaurants with outdoor patios in the downtown Yakima Avenue / Front Street historic core remain subject to YMC 6.04 if amplification carries to adjacent residential or commercial property; the SunDome's enclosed arena and the State Fair concerts at the Grandstand operate under negotiated event permits. YMC 6.04.180 authorizes the Office of Code Administration to issue a regulatory permit to make noise otherwise prohibited.
Amplified sound that unreasonably disturbs peace, comfort and repose is a YMC Chapter 6.04 misdemeanor. Permitted-event sound exceeding 95 dB at the property line over a 10-minute sustained period, or operating outside the 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. window without City Manager approval, violates the Special Event Permit Guidelines and can trigger permit revocation or denial of future permits. Sound levels exceeding WAC 173-60-040 receiving-property caps may also be referred to the Department of Ecology / Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency. Report to SunComm 509-575-6200.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Yakima, WA
Yakima Municipal Code does not contain a specific provision allowing or prohibiting artificial turf on private residential property. Commercial sitescreening...
Yakima, WA
Yakima Municipal Code does not require or restrict native-plant landscaping on private residential property. Commercial sitescreening under YMC Chapter 15.07...
Yakima, WA
YMC 5.57.040 sets buffers and zone restrictions. Mobile or street vendors may not operate in any vehicle travel lane (YMC 5.57.040(2)) and may not sell from ...
Yakima, WA
YMC Chapter 5.57 (Mobile Food Vendors) — adopted by Ord. 2015-029 and amended by Ord. 2020-006 — requires every mobile or street vendor to obtain a city busi...
Yakima, WA
Federal law preempts local regulation of the navigable airspace over Yakima. Recreational flyers operate under 49 U.S.C. § 44809 (visual line of sight, ≤ 400...
Yakima, WA
Yakima does not require a city permit or business license for an occasional residential garage sale of personal household items. Mobile/street vendor licensi...
See how Yakima's amplified music & events rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.