Novi, MI Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Sound limit
- 80 decibels at property line
- Measured at
- Property line of event site
- Applies to
- Permitted outdoor assemblies only
- Equipment covered
- PA systems, radios, musical instruments
- Consequence
- Permit revocation under Sec. 24-25
Summary
Novi's outdoor assembly permit conditions set a hard numeric ceiling on amplified sound: under Sec. 24-21(17), public address systems, radios, phonographs, musical instruments, and other recording devices at a permitted festival or assembly cannot exceed 80 decibels measured at the property line. This condition applies specifically to events permitted under Chapter 24, not to noise citywide.
(17)Noise disturbance. Sound producing equipment, including but not limited to public address systems, radios, phonographs, musical instruments and other recording devices, shall not be operated on the premises of the outdoor assembly so as to exceed eighty (80) decibels at the property line.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 24 governs permits for outdoor assemblies (any event over 200 attendants featuring a festival, exhibition, show, or similar entertainment). Sec. 24-21 lists the prerequisites the city clerk must impose before issuing that permit, covering everything from security staffing and restroom-fixture ratios to fencing and insurance. Item (17) targets sound: sound producing equipment, a category the section spells out to include public address systems, radios, phonographs, and musical instruments, shall not be operated on the premises of the outdoor assembly so as to exceed eighty (80) decibels at the property line.
That is a fixed numeric ceiling tied to the boundary of the event site, not a sliding scale by zoning district or time of day, and it sits alongside a separate condition, item (18), requiring the permittee to fence the site so attendance in excess of the permitted maximum cannot gain entry. This decibel cap is distinct from the general noise-disturbance rule in Sec. 22-96, which prohibits amplified sound that creates a noise disturbance in a residential area between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. without setting a specific number; Sec.
24-21(17) is the only place in the code where a numeric decibel figure appears, and it applies only to events that have gone through the Chapter 24 permit process.
Violations & Fines
Because the 80-decibel cap is a permit condition under Sec. 24-21(17) rather than a stand-alone offense, exceeding it puts the permittee in breach of the permit; combined with other Sec. 24-21 violations, that supports permit revocation under Sec. 24-25(a), and if the underlying event was never permitted at all, Sec. 24-3 and Sec. 24-4 treat the whole assembly as a public nuisance per se.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 80-decibel limit apply to every noisy event in Novi?
Where is sound measured for the 80-decibel cap?
What happens if a permitted festival exceeds 80 decibels?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Novi
Compare Novi to another location·View the Michigan noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Oakland County handle decibel limits.