Outdoor music in unincorporated King County must meet KCC 12.86 and WAC 173-60 limits: 55 dBA day and 45 dBA night at residential property lines. Event variances available via special event permits.
Outdoor music events, including private backyard parties, commercial venues, and farm weddings, fall under KCC 12.86 and WAC 173-60 maximum environmental noise levels. For Class A (residential) receiving property, the limits are 55 dBA from 7 AM to 10 PM and 45 dBA from 10 PM to 7 AM. Class B (commercial) receiving property allows 60 dBA day and 55 dBA night. WAC 173-60-050(4) authorizes local jurisdictions to grant temporary noise variances for public events. King County permits temporary outdoor amplified events through the Special Events permit process administered by Parks and Recreation. Wineries, farm venues, and event centers in agricultural zones typically negotiate noise conditions at the conditional use permit stage. Festivals on King County Parks land (Marymoor, Cougar Mountain, etc.) operate under site-specific noise conditions. Residents adjacent to winery or farm event venues should review the conditional use permit before filing complaints.
Civil infraction under KCC 23.02 with fines up to 500 dollars. Unpermitted outdoor events can be shut down by Sheriff's Office. Repeated violations may jeopardize business licenses and conditional use permits.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Seattle, WA
Seattle's Land Use Code allows residential lawn ornaments, statuary, and yard art without permits provided structures do not exceed accessory-structure heigh...
Seattle, WA
Seattle does not regulate residential inflatable holiday decorations by size or type. Standard Noise Ordinance (SMC 25.08) limits apply to blower-motor noise...
Seattle, WA
Seattle has no ordinance restricting when residents may put up or take down holiday lights. The general Noise Ordinance SMC 25.08 applies to any amplified ou...
Seattle, WA
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Seattle require building permits from SDCI when they include new electrical, plumbing, gas piping, or a structural roof under Se...
Seattle, WA
Backyard wood and pellet smokers in Seattle are allowed at single-family homes but are subject to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) Regulation I, Section ...
Seattle, WA
Seattle Fire Code Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices and LP-gas containers larger than 1 lb on combustible balconies of multi-family buildi...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how other cities in King County handle outdoor music.
See how Seattle's outdoor music rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.