Tustin, CA Noise Ordinances: Outdoor Music (2026)

Tustin does not have a stand-alone outdoor-music decibel number; outdoor live or recorded music is treated as 'music' under Section 4614, so each applicable exterior limit is reduced by 5 dB(A). In Tustin's Old Town historic district, where parcels may be residential, commercial or mixed-use, the governing ceiling depends on the noise zone of the affected receiving property: roughly 50 dB(A) (residential), 55 dB(A) (special/mixed adjusted for music) up the scale. The major exception is Section 4617(b): outdoor gatherings, public dances, shows, sporting and entertainment events are exempt from Chapter 6 when conducted under a permit/license issued by the City under Article 3, Chapter 2 of the Tustin City Code governing the staging of such events. That permit framework, rather than a fixed decibel cap, is how the city manages festivals and amplified outdoor events. Activities on public or private school grounds and on publicly owned/operated parks or playgrounds are also exempt under Sections 4617(a) and 4617(c). Absent a permit, sustained outdoor music exceeding the zone limit can be cited.