Sound Issues
Amplified Sound
ZNA has worked to protect residents from excessive sound issues while at the same time supporting business establishments that support the local Austin music scene. In a commercially-zoned area, an establishment must obtain a permit containing decibel limits and time restrictions to operate sound equipment audible to the public except amplified music is not allowed with 100-feet of a residentially-zoned area. In a residentially-zoned area, no permit is required if the amplified sound is between 10am and 10pm and does not exceed 75db. When permits are required, they can be issued on an annual basis or a temporary basis.
If you have issues with sound from a business establishment, you can call 311 to report it but the City has indicated that the quickest investigation occurs if you use their 311 App (click here for download instructions).
Annual Sound Permits for Outdoor Music Venues (OMV)
- Active OMV Permits
- Austin Eastciders [1530 Barton Springs Rd; submitted 14 Dec 2021] (external link to AB+C)
- Pending OMV Applications
- Opa Coffee and Wine Bar [2050 South Lamar Blvd; submitted 10 Dec 2021] (external link to AB+C)
- Bouldin Acres [2027 South Lamar Blvd; submitted 30 Jan 2020] (external link to AB+C)
- Irie Bean Coffee & Wine Bar [2310 South Lamar Blvd; submitted 09 Nov 2018] (external link to AB+C)
- Expired OMV Permits of Establishments That Still Exist
- Austin Eastciders [1530 Barton Springs Rd; expired 04 Dec 2021] (external link to AB+C)
- Juliet Italian Kitchen [1500 Barton Springs Rd; expired 31 Jul 2019] (external link to AB+C)
- Opa Coffee and Wine Bar [2050 South Lamar Blvd; expired 01 Sep 2018] (external link to AB+C)
- Baby Acapulco [1628 Barton Springs Rd; expired 14 Jul 2017] (external link to AB+C)
- Square Rut Kava Bar [1601 Barton Springs Rd; expired 17 May 2017] (external link to AB+C)
- All Active, Pending, and Historical Sound Permits Including OMVs, Concrete Pours, and Temporary Events
- Along South Lamar Blvd (external link to AB+C)
- Along Barton Springs Rd (external link to AB+C)
Sound Impact Plan
A sound impact plan is required by City Code §9-2-41 as part of an OMV permit issued by the City. It is prepared after the application has been reviewed by the City. The elements of a sound impact plan include the following:
(1) sound-mitigating design features
(2) prescribed decibel levels and hours of operating
(3) availability and use of decibel meters on site
(4) contact information and hours of availability for an individual responsible for sound
(5) location for display of permit
(6) any other elements required by the accountable official
The following Sound Impact Plans have been prepared by the City:
- Austin East Ciders (1530 Barton Springs Rd) [2022] (<1 PDF)
- Opa's (2050 South Lamar Blvd) [2022] (<1 PDF)
Negotiated Sound Agreements
ZNA has negotiated the following sound agreements:
- Ski Shores (1608 Barton Springs Rd) [2020] (<1 PDF)
- Austin East Ciders (1530 Barton Springs Rd) [2020] (<1 PDF)
- Uncle Billy's (1530 Barton Springs Rd) [2017] (<1 PDF)
- Opa's (2050 South Lamar Blvd) [2011] (<1 PDF)
Sound Ordinance Documents and Links
- City Code Chapter 9.2 - Noise and Amplied Sound [as of 03 Dec 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
- City Code Chapter 8, Article 4 - Sound Equipment in Parks [as of 03 Dec 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
- City Sound Permit FAQ (external link to CoA PDF)
- City OMV & Special Event Permitting (external link to CoA webpage)
- OMV Permit Application (PDF on external CoA website)
- Slide Presentation on the Sound Ordinance to the Environmental Commission [01 Dec 2021] (<1 MB PDF)
- View Briefing on the Sound Ordinance to the Environmental Commission [01 Dec 2021] (external link to ATXn; click on Item 3.b)
- Austin Monitor Article on the Environmental Commission Briefing on the Sound Ordinance [03 Dec 2021] (external link)
