Decibel Requirements for Weddings

What engaged couples need to know about sound limitations before booking a venue and insights for wedding professionals.

More and more venues are instilling a strict decibel level at their locations. The requirements are even making their way into booking contracts. This is why couples reserving venues need to ask about music sound levels and read the fine print on their contracts.

Some decibel requirements are needed as venues are located in residential areas. Let’s take a deeper dive into noise requirements.

Please note: this is not legal advice. Rather, this is to start a conversation as to what is an appropriate noise level.

What is covered in this article:

1. Noise Ordinance Searches

2. Description of Noise and a Noise Disturbance

3. What Constitutes Too Loud

4. Maintaining a Decibel Level

5. Loud Music Alternatives

6. Government Offices Setting Noice Ordinance

7. City vs. County Ordinance

8. Commercial and Residential Noise

9. Noise Ordinance Hours

10. Noise Complaint Enforcing

Noise Ordinance Searches

I thought I would start by discovering the number of searches per month for the search phrase “noise ordinance” to determine the general interest in noise compliance. According to Glimpse, in the past 5 years in America, there has been an average of 25,000 monthly searches. The peak month is in June. This is expected as many outdoor parties and work will happen in the summertime.

Graph courtesy of Glimpse

What is Noise and a Noise Disturbance?

“Noise” means any useless sound which annoys or disturbs humans or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans.

“Noise disturbance” means any sound that is unreasonably loud, disturbing, or unnecessary or that endangers or injures the health of humans or annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities.

In addition, the ordinances exempt the following:

“Noncommercial public speaking and public assembly activities that are conducted on any public right-of-way or in any public space shall be exempt.”

The Ordinances limit hours for excavation/demolition, deliveries, and loudspeakers. They also ban excessive noises on the streets near schools, churches, courts, and hospitals which interfere  “..with the workers or sessions thereof or persons therein”.

What Constitutes Too Loud?

Sounds under 85 dB are generally considered safe. Let’s take a look at a few common decibel examples that fall below the threshold.

• 10 dB: normal breathing

• 20 dB: leaves rustling, mosquito buzzing

• 30 dB: whispering

• 40 dB: quiet office or residential area, light rain

• 50 dB: moderate rainfall, refrigerator

• 60 dB: normal conversation, electric toothbrush

• 70 dB: washing machine, dishwasher

• 80 dB: noisy restaurant, vacuum cleaner, garbage disposal

• 85 dB: Blender, heavy traffic

Sounds exceeding 85 dB can lead to hearing damage. In addition to the decibel level, the risk of damage will depend on two main factors: distance from the sound source and time exposed.

• 90 dB: lawnmower, shouting conversation

• 95 dB: electric drill

• 100 dB: night club, train, snowmobile

• 110 dB: power saw, jackhammer, motorcycle

• 120 dB: ambulance siren, chainsaw, rock concert

• 130 dB: stock car race, jet engine

• 135 dB: loud squeaky toy (next to ear)

• 140 dB: airplane takeoff

• 145 dB: fireworks

• 150 dB: shotgun blast

Maintaining a Decibel Level

Venues should review their options to lower the decibel levels at their locations. Options for venues to remain following the law could do the following:

• Install sound barriers

• Strategic placement of the speakers

• Implementation of noise-reducing technologies

• Outdoor venues might explore natural barriers like foliage, while indoor venues could invest in acoustically designed spaces.

• Install real-time sound-level monitoring tools (inside and outside)

Music entertainment can keep the music at or below a set decibel level. Just keep in mind when the restrictions are in place. Challenges to confined decibel levels:

• Can guests hear the vows during the ceremony?

• Can guests converse while enjoying their meals?

• Does the music create the desired vibe during the dancing portion of your reception?

Loud Music Alternatives

If you are in an outdoor setting such as a park or garden, you may consider other options for music entertainment. Two such options are acoustic musicians and silent discos.

• Acoustic musicians include string quartets and acoustic guitar players.

• A silent disco is a party where people dance to music played through wireless headphones. DJs can transmit their music to the headphones no matter the type of celebration.

I’ve highlighted the growing importance of understanding and complying with noise ordinances, especially at event venues. Couples and venue owners are urged to be aware of local regulations, consider sound management options, and explore alternatives to loud music.

What Government Office Sets the Noise Ordinance?

In my investigations of several U.S. States - cities and counties define “excessive noise” and regulate it.

I encourage you to check your specific local regulations. Understanding that noise ordinances can vary widely even within a state or county is crucial for couples planning their weddings and for venue owners setting sound limitations.

Examples of City and County Ordinance Differences

Clark County (County of the City of Las Vegas) defines excessive noise as a form of pollution that negatively affects health or welfare, lowers the value of affected properties, and disrupts the peace and comfort of surrounding areas. In the county, you can be penalized if your music is heard from at least 75 feet away.

The distances vary by jurisdiction. In the City of Las Vegas, it’s 50 feet. You can be cited and fined for this misdemeanor violation.

I think this is very important to know. The disturbance of music is not measured at the point right in front of the speakers. If you are measuring the loudness of music at a venue, you must measure it at different points. What is the decibel level on the dance floor and at the back tables allowing for conversations? In addition, what is the decibel level outside including at your property line?

Commercial and Residential Noise Measurements

While researching noise limitations on businesses, I discovered that entertainment businesses are mentioned in the City of Chicago’s ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE AND VIBRATION CONTROL - provision 11-4-2805 Regulated entertainment businesses.

The provision states “No establishment holding a liquor license pursuant to Chapter 4-60 of this Code, or a public place of amusement license pursuant to Article III of Chapter 4-156 of this Code, shall operate or permit operation of any equipment or device that electronically amplifies sound so as to generate sound having a sound pressure level greater than 55 dB(A) when measured from within any dwelling unit; provided that, if the ambient noise level is greater than 55 dB(A), then the applicable limitation is 10 dB(A) above the ambient noise level.

55 decibels with a maximum of 65 dBs! Wow. That is a very quiet party! I want you to be aware of the laws in case law enforcement comes knocking on your door.

The provision also states “A business subject to this section shall cooperate with reasonable requests by enforcement personnel for the purpose of measuring sound pressure levels produced by equipment or devices that electronically amplify sound.

As a result, venues must determine what the restrictions are for commercial properties and residential properties depending upon the location of their rental space (Residential, Commercial). If there is a difference between them, the venue must use the more strict standards. The same can be said for City vs. Country noise restrictions.

Noise Ordinance Hours

The hours of the day for excessive noise affect whether you comply or not in your local area. It is worthwhile to check your local ordinances before making a formal complaint so that you can cite the law.

Nevada - Maximum allowable noise standards are identified for daytime (7:00 AM to 7:00 PM), evening (7:00 PM to 10:00 PM), and nighttime (10:00 PM to 7:00 AM) periods.

California - Most local ordinances include "quiet times." A typical ordinance prohibits loud noises between 11 p.m. and 7 or 8 a.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. or midnight until 8 to 10 a.m. on Sundays and holidays.

Who Enforces Excessive Noise Complaints?

The local law enforcement (police department) are the ones who investigate and enforce noise violations.

• First, remember that if the loud noise you hear may indicate a person is in distress or that a crime is being committed, you must call 911 immediately.

• Second, for other noise complaints, you can call 311 for police non-emergency response.

If your local laws have a specific decibel level, determining if the law is broken is cut and dry with a decibel meter sound reader.

However, if your local noise ordinance is subjective and a noise complaint is made to the local law enforcement against you - A police officer will be dispatched to observe and discuss the complaint. Often police will give you only a warning at first in the hopes that you will willingly turn down the volume known as a “voluntary abatement”.

Depending on your local laws, penalties will vary. However, in the city of Las Vegas - Any person violating the noise ordinance is guilty of a misdemeanor. A person who is convicted of a violation shall be punished by a fine not less than $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, and $250 for the third and all subsequent offenses.

Sources:

1. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/noise_ordinance#:~:text=A%20noise%20ordinance%20is%20a,that%20violates%20a%20noise%20ordinance

2. https://www.stimmel-law.com/en/articles/law-noise-protection-california

3. https://library.municode.com/nv/las_vegas/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9HESA_CH9.16NO

4. https://www.enoisecontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Chicago_Noise_Ordinance.pdf

5. dB Levels - Lexie Hearing

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