What to know about commercial audio in Peoria
55 dBA, measured 25 feet past the property line
Peoria's noise code makes it unlawful for amplified music, live bands, radios or TVs to produce more than 55 dBA, measured at least 25 feet from the property line. The code sets no separate, looser limit for restaurants or bars, so a patio is held to the same number as any other property.
Source: Peoria City Code 13-94
Quiet hours near homes
Loudspeakers and PA systems that are unreasonably loud near homes are barred from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays and from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekends and holidays. A public performance or gathering with a city permit is not covered by that hour limit.
Source: Peoria City Code 13-94
Audible at 50 feet is presumed too loud
Peoria presumes sound is unreasonably loud when it is plainly audible 50 feet from the property line. Schools, churches, hospitals, care homes and similar sites can also ask the city for a Noise Sensitive Area of up to 500 feet, so a patio near one may face stricter wording.
Source: Peoria City Code 13-94
Downtown patios follow the restaurant's hours
In the Downtown Area, bounded by 85th Avenue, Peoria Avenue and Grand Avenue, outdoor dining and patio areas may only operate during the hours of the main business. Patio speakers should run on the same schedule.
Zones: who hears what
Most restaurants want at least three zones: the dining room, the bar and the patio. Restrooms and entries often get their own. Each zone has its own volume and usually its own source, so the bar can carry game audio while the dining room stays on background music.
Staff control the zones from a wall panel or an app. We set a maximum level on each zone, so a busy Friday doesn't end with the patio turned all the way up.
Speakers that suit the room
In-ceiling speakers keep a dining room clean. Surface-mount speakers work where there is no ceiling space, and pendants suit open ceilings and warehouse-style rooms. A bar with a crowd usually needs a subwoofer, so the music stays full without pushing the main speakers.
- Speaker type follows the ceiling: finished, open or none.
- Long runs with lots of speakers often use a 70-volt system, which keeps the wiring simple.
- Outdoor speakers need to be rated for sun, heat and dust.
Planning a Peoria patio around 55 dBA
The limit is measured 25 feet or more from the property line, so where the sound goes matters more than how powerful the amplifier is. We aim patio speakers down and toward your seating, away from the nearest line, and use more speakers at lower output rather than a few loud ones. Then we lock the maximum level in the amplifier instead of leaving a knob anyone can turn.
If your patio backs onto homes, we also set a schedule so outdoor zones step down before the 10 p.m. weekday and 11 p.m. weekend cutoffs. The rules are written in decibels and hours, so those are the two numbers we design to.
Amplifiers and the rack
Behind the speakers sits a multi-channel amplifier with built-in processing, which lets us tune each zone for the room. Everything lands in a labeled rack so the next service call is quick. Peoria amends the electrical code so outdoor and kitchen receptacles need ground-fault protection, and we keep that in mind when a patio rack or powered speaker needs an outlet. We can also connect to your existing equipment when it still works.
The install, start to finish
- Walk the rooms, ceilings, patio and cable paths.
- Draw up zones and speaker spots, with a quote.
- Install after hours or on a slow day, so you stay open.
- Tune each zone, then show your staff the controls.
- Service is Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Often paired with
In bars, audio goes in with TVs and video distribution. Add AV control and staff run music and TVs from one panel. Patios near the Sports Complex also suit event audio and video. More is on the Enzo in Peoria page.
