Carson has no separate amplified-music ordinance; outdoor music is regulated through Carson's adopted noise rules (LA County Code §12.08, esp. §12.08.560) plus the city's special event permit process. Amplified sound that is plainly audible to a person of normal hearing at a distance of 50 feet or more from the source in a residential zone — or that exceeds the Zone I exterior limit of 50 dBA day / 45 dBA night at any residential property line — is a violation. Bars, restaurants, hotels, and event venues with outdoor patios must comply with the Zone II commercial limits (65 dBA day / 60 dBA night) at the property line. Carson Municipal Code Art. IX (Zoning) requires conditional use permits for live entertainment in most commercial zones, and California ABC Type 47/48 license conditions often include explicit noise limits. Special events (block parties, festivals at Veterans Park, StubHub Center / Dignity Health Sports Park) require a city special event permit and amplified sound variance.
Amplified sound rule (LA County Code §12.08.560 — adopted): 'No person shall, within any residential zone or any noise-sensitive area, use any electronic device, including a radio, musical instrument, phonograph or sound-amplifier, in such a manner as to peace, quiet or comfort of neighboring inhabitants or with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing for the person who is in the room, vehicle, or chamber in which the device is operated and who is a voluntary listener.' Plainly-audible threshold: from a point 50 ft from the source. Commercial venue patios (Zone II): must hold property-line noise to 65 dBA day / 60 dBA night; live amplified music outdoors at restaurants typically requires a CUP under CMC Art. IX zoning §9128 et seq. with conditions limiting hours and dBA. ABC license: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §25612.5 authorizes ABC to impose noise conditions on on-sale licenses; the standard ABC condition limits exterior music to 'no louder than ambient' at the property line. Special events: Carson special event permit (administered by Community Services / Parks & Recreation) required for events on public property; private events with amplified sound after 10 p.m. require a noise variance from the Health Officer under §12.08.580. Dignity Health Sports Park (StubHub Center, 18400 Avalon Blvd) operates under a separate development agreement with negotiated noise mitigation. Public parks: amplified sound in city parks (Veterans, Calas, Dolphin, Mills) requires a park permit per CMC Art. 5 Ch. 4 and is subject to park hours (typically dawn to 10 p.m.).
Same as decibel-limits: misdemeanor under LA County Code §12.08.030 (up to $1,000 / 6 months); Carson admin citation $100–$500. ABC license violations may trigger separate accusation against the alcohol license. Operating a special event without a permit or in violation of permit conditions is a separate CMC violation. Persistent violations at CUP'd venues can result in CUP revocation under Carson Planning Commission process.
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