Outdoor music and events in unincorporated Madera County fall under the amplified-sound rules of Section 9.58.020(E)(2): no disturbing amplified sound, a strict 10:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m. ban across residential property lines, and a 50-foot audibility test. Section 9.58.040 specifically lets the county cite the 'host of the event.'
Madera County does not have a separate outdoor-concert or special-event noise chapter, so outdoor and backyard music are governed by the general noise ordinance, Chapter 9.58, and especially Section 9.58.020(E)(2). Under subsection (a), operating any radio, musical instrument, or sound-amplification device 'in such a manner as to disturb the peace, quiet, and comfort of neighboring residents or persons of normal sensitivity' is unlawful, and such devices are 'strictly prohibited between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. if the sound creates a noise disturbance that crosses residential property lines.' Subsection (b) makes amplified sound 'plainly audible at a distance of fifty feet from the source' prima facie evidence of a violation. Importantly, the enforcement section (9.58.040) was amended (Ord. Nos. 709 and 709A in 2025) to provide that 'the property owner and/or host of the event shall be served with an administrative citation,' confirming the ordinance is aimed at parties and outdoor events. Because Madera County is a 'right-to-farm' jurisdiction and the area includes the Sierra foothills and Bass Lake recreation areas, the factors in Section 9.58.020(D), such as time of day, density, and zoning, are weighed in complaints. Large outdoor events may also require a use permit through Madera County Planning, which can carry its own noise conditions.
Disturbing outdoor amplified music is a misdemeanor and public nuisance under Section 9.58.040. The host of the event and/or property owner may be served an administrative citation, with penalties of up to $500 (first), $750 (second within a year), and $1,000 (each additional within a year). Each day and each verification visit is a separate offense.
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