Kings County, NY Noise Ordinances: Outdoor Music (2026)

Outdoor amplified music in Brooklyn covers street fairs, block parties, park concerts, sidewalk cafes, rooftops, and backyard venues. NYC Admin Code §24-231 requires a Sound Device Permit from the NYPD precinct commander for any amplified sound in a public place, issued for specific dates and hours and rarely granted past 10 PM. Block parties and street fairs obtain a Street Activity Permit from SAPO and a bundled sound device authorization. Rooftop bars and outdoor dining structures in neighborhoods like Williamsburg, DUMBO, and Greenpoint must operate under their establishment's existing venue license and remain within the 42 dB(A) neighbor-interior limit. Prospect Park and other NYC Parks events require a Parks Department Special Event Permit with DEP sign-off. Residential backyard music — common in Brooklyn brownstones and Bed-Stuy rowhouses — is subject to the 'plainly audible' standard during quiet hours (10 PM – 7 AM weekdays, 10 PM – 9 AM weekends). The historic outdoor summer concert series at Prospect Park Bandshell and Coney Island operate under multi-date permits.