Noise ordinances

This is a common issue with those of us who put on shows at houses. The Seattle Police Department website (http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/police/prevention/Tips/Noise.htm) states that any gathering at a residential property emitting noise that can be heard 75 feet or more from the property, which occur Friday and Saturday nights between 10pm and 7am, is defined as a “Residential Disturbance.”

However, SMC 25.08.500 (Public disturbance noises) states that it’s unlawful to knowingly make any noise created by a musical instrument that “disturbs” another person, and then refuse to stop said noise when told to do so by police. This also applied to any human voice that “disturbs” another person after 10pm, any night.

Be aware that there's a difference between a police officer telling you to turn everything off and telling you that "there's a complaint, and [they] don't want to have to come back!" The residents at The Dog Park (myspace.com/ledogpark) had multiple police visits, but because the cool-guy cop didn't say that they had to turn everything off they got away with decreased volume instead. Had they received an order to desist and they didn't comply, that would mean a ticket for hundreds of dollars and your landlord would have an excuse to serve an eviction notice.

So basically, in Seattle if anyone complains and the police come and the Po comes a-knockin, you gotta shut off the music and shut your face!

This means that it’d be a good idea to talk to all your neighbors before ever doing an event that might end up “disturbing” them. Be nice; give them your phone number so you can talk things through without them going to the police.

Laws

• noise laws

• assembly laws

• business laws (collecting money/running an underground business)

  • considerations for illegal activities