Irvine Outdoor Music Rules Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Irvine Municipal Code Section 4-9-210 addresses sound-reproducing equipment including radios, stereos, televisions, public address systems, and musical instruments. Any such device operated outdoors — whether at a private residence, park, or commercial establishment — must not produce noise that exceeds the applicable ambient noise baseline at the property line of the receiving property. For residential areas, this means outdoor music must stay below 55 dBA during daytime hours and 50 dBA at night as measured at the neighbor's property line.

During nighttime quiet hours (10 PM to 7 AM), the standard becomes more restrictive. Under the city's general quiet-hours provisions in Section 4-9-202, any amplified music or outdoor sound that is audible beyond the property line and could disturb a reasonable person is a violation regardless of whether it exceeds the decibel baseline. This effectively means that outdoor speakers and musical instruments should be turned off or brought indoors after 10 PM. Private parties with outdoor music before 10 PM do not require a city permit as long as the ambient noise standards are maintained.

Organized events on public property — including concerts at the Orange County Great Park amphitheater, festivals in city parks, and commercial events at the Irvine Spectrum Center — require a Special Event Permit from the City of Irvine's Community Services Department. These permits specify maximum allowable sound levels, permitted hours of amplification, and required sound monitoring. Sound trucks and mobile amplification systems are prohibited in residential zones without a separate city permit. The Irvine Police Department responds to outdoor music complaints at (949) 724-7000 and can require immediate reduction of volume or cessation of amplified sound.