Beverly Hills Municipal Code Art. 5 Amplified Sound

No person shall use, or operate any loudspeaker or sound amplifying equipment in a fixed or movable position or mounted upon any sound truck or other vehicle for the purposes of giving instructions, directions, talks, addresses, or lectures or for transmitting music to any persons or assemblages of persons, in or upon, any street, alley, sidewalk, park, place, or public property without first obtaining a permit issued under the provisions of chapter 1, article 1 of this title. (1962 Code § 4-8.501 et seq.)

The permit requirements of this article shall not be applicable to law enforcement personnel of government agencies acting in their official capacity. (1962 Code § 4-8.501 et seq.)

SOUND AMPLIFYING EQUIPMENT: Any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music, or any other sound, or by which the human voice, music, or any other sound is amplified. "Sound amplifying equipment" shall not include standard automobile radios when used and heard only by the occupants of the vehicle in which the automobile radio is installed. "Sound amplifying equipment" shall not include warning devices on authorized emergency vehicles or horns or other warning devices on any vehicle used only for traffic safety purposes.

SOUND TRUCK: Any motor vehicle, or any other vehicle regardless of motive power, whether in motion or stationary, having mounted thereon, or attached thereto, any sound amplifying equipment. (1962 Code § 4-8.501 et seq.)

Permit applications shall be filed with the city a minimum of five (5) days prior to the date on which the permit is required. (1962 Code § 4-8.501 et seq.)

Issuance or denial of a permit shall be based on the criteria of section 4-1-103 of this title, excluding subsections A1 and A3 thereof; and with the following additional criteria which require denial of the permit if:

A. The conditions of any motor vehicle movement are such that the use of the equipment would constitute a substantial and unreasonable interference to traffic safety; or

B. The conditions of pedestrian movement are such that the use of the equipment would constitute a substantial detriment to traffic safety. (1962 Code § 4-8.501 et seq.)

Fees for permits regulating amplified sound shall be on a per diem basis as designated by council resolution, and the permit shall designate the specific effective dates of such permit. (1962 Code § 4-8.501 et seq.)

The use or operation of sound amplifying equipment shall be subject to the following restrictions and prohibitions:

A. The use or operation of sound amplifying equipment shall be prohibited between the hours from six o'clock (6:00) P.M. to ten o'clock (10:00) A.M. of the next succeeding day;

B. No sound emanating from sound amplifying equipment shall exceed fifteen (15) dbA above the ambient as measured at any property line;

C. The volume of sound shall be so controlled that it will not be substantially and unreasonably loud, raucous, jarring, disturbing, or a nuisance to reasonable persons of normal sensitiveness within the area of audibility;

D. The only sounds permitted to be amplified shall be either music or human speech, or both. (1962 Code § 4-8.501 et seq.)