Outdoor and event music in Georgetown must meet the Chapter 8.16 decibel limits and, for organized events, be covered by a valid Special Event Permit that complies with Section 8.16.030. Downtown's Square and patios are popular venues, so the City ties event sound to permit conditions.
Outdoor music, patio entertainment, and festival sound in Georgetown are regulated under the Noise Control ordinance (Chapter 8.16) together with the City's special-event process. Amplified sound at events must be covered by a valid Special Event Permit and must comply with Section 8.16.030 of the Noise Control Code, which sets the governing decibel maximums by zoning and time of day. In or abutting residential areas the limit is 63 decibels in the daytime and 56 decibels at night; commercial property allows 70/63 decibels and industrial property 72/65 decibels, with the lowest applicable maximum controlling where categories overlap. The historic downtown Square is a hub for outdoor events, so venues and organizers there typically must satisfy both the permit conditions and the underlying decibel limits. Loud music is also one of the examples the City lists for noise complaints routed to the non-emergency police line, and Texas Penal Code Section 42.01 supplies a state backstop for unreasonable noise near residences. Because the ordinance's exemption section (8.16.080) was being amended in 2025, event hosts should confirm current outdoor-sound conditions, end times, and permit requirements with the City before booking live or amplified music.
Enforced by Georgetown Police (512-930-3510) and Code Compliance. A Chapter 8.16 violation is a Class C misdemeanor with penalties under Section 1.08.010. Hosting amplified outdoor music at an event without the required Special Event Permit, or exceeding decibel limits, can be cited.
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