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

Santa Monica's Chapter 4.12 treats amplified outdoor music as a distinct enforcement priority due to the city's dense residential-commercial mix and its active entertainment corridors. Amplified sound — including live music, DJ events, loudspeakers, and sound systems — that is perceptible across a residential property line between 10 PM and 7 AM constitutes a prohibited act under the ordinance regardless of decibel level. During daytime hours, amplified sound must still comply with the applicable zone's exterior noise limit (50 dBA residential, 60 dBA commercial), with the additional 5 dB penalty applied for music and speech content.

Businesses operating outdoor amplified entertainment venues, restaurant patios, or retail speakers on corridors such as the Third Street Promenade, Main Street, and Ocean Avenue must obtain any required special event permits from the City Manager's Office and comply with operational conditions. The Planning Commission may impose conditions on use permits for entertainment businesses that restrict hours of amplified sound, require acoustic barriers, or mandate sound level monitoring. Events in public parks or beach areas with amplified sound require a Parks and Recreation Department permit. The city has historically been active in enforcing outdoor music standards near residential areas, particularly in the Sunset Park and Ocean Park neighborhoods adjacent to the commercial corridors.