Alpine County, CA Noise Ordinances: Outdoor Music (2026)

Alpine County Code Section 18.68.090 treats outdoor music — live bands, DJs, outdoor speakers at resorts, weddings and festivals — under its general parcel-line decibel standard rather than a dedicated entertainment section. Music must not push measured sound beyond the parcel boundary above the zone's Leq(15) ceiling: 60 dB(A) in Residential Estates, 65 dB(A) in Residential Neighborhood, 70 dB(A) in Institutional and Planned Development, and 75 dB(A) in Commercial and Commercial Recreational districts (which would cover much of the resort/recreation activity at places like Bear Valley and Kirkwood). For organized outdoor events, the code's Special Events exception is the key mechanism: 'Sound levels and duration shall be regulated through the conditions of approval for the special event permit issued and approved by the county,' letting the County tailor a noise ceiling and an end time to the venue and neighbors. A separate Temporary/Short Duration exception lets the permitting authority condition one-off activities (modifying source locations, buffering or muffling sound, or limiting daily and total duration). Because the entire county is unincorporated, the County issues these permits and conditions; there is no city ordinance. The standard remains designed to supplement Penal Code Sections 370 and 415, so outdoor music that disturbs neighbors can also be cited as a nuisance or disturbing the peace even within an exception.