What to know about commercial audio in Queen Creek
Music stays indoors unless the venue has a permit
In commercial zones, entertainment is allowed if it is completely indoors and not heard past the property line. That includes live or piped music, DJs and karaoke. Other entertainment, such as a patio, needs a Conditional Use Permit.
Speakers face the inside of the site
Where a restaurant or bar uses amplification, the Zoning Ordinance says speakers must face the interior of the site. We aim every speaker that way and mark the aim on the plan.
Downtown Core outdoor hours
In the Downtown Core, outdoor entertainment is allowed until 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday, with speakers facing the site interior. In the Town Center and Mixed Use districts it ends at 11 p.m., and only if the site is at least 300 feet from existing single-family homes. Closer or later needs a Conditional Use Permit approved by Council.
Source: Town of Queen Creek Zoning Ordinance 4.6.D.11.d and 4.6.D.11.e
No decibel number, so the test is judgment
The noise sections we reviewed, from the 2021 ordinance text, contain no decibel limit. The test is whether noise is unreasonable, weighing volume, nearness to homes, zoning, time of day, duration and whether it is commercial. Under Town Code 9-6-4, loud, unreasonable or excessive noise is unlawful between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. regardless of the source.
Source: Town of Queen Creek Town Code 9-6-5 (Ordinance 764-21)
What a commercial audio system includes
A system is speakers, an amplifier with processing, a source for the music, and a control for staff. We choose each part for the room, wire it to a labeled rack, and tune it before we leave.
If you already have an amplifier or speakers that work, we check them first and connect to them where it makes sense.
Zones: who hears what
Most restaurants want at least a dining room, a bar and a patio as separate zones. Restrooms and entries sometimes get their own. Each zone has its own volume, and usually its own source, so the bar can run the game while the dining room plays background music.
Staff control zones from a wall panel or a phone. 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. Bars with a crowd usually need a subwoofer so the music stays full without pushing the main speakers.
- Many small speakers at a low level sound better than a few loud ones.
- Long runs with many speakers often use a 70-volt system, which keeps wiring simple.
- Outdoor speakers need to be rated for sun, heat and dust.
Patios in Queen Creek
Because a patio isn't indoors, check where yours stands before you buy speakers. Depending on the district, outdoor entertainment is either allowed within set hours or needs a Conditional Use Permit. We ask the Town which applies to your address and design to that answer.
Either way, speakers aim into your seating and away from neighbors, and the maximum level is locked in the amplifier. That is easier to defend than a knob anyone can turn. The Town also bars patrons from dancing outdoors at restaurants and bars: dancing is allowed indoors only.
How an install goes
- A walkthrough of the rooms, ceilings and cable paths.
- A plan with zones, speaker spots and aim.
- The install, scheduled around your business hours.
- Tuning each zone, then showing your staff how to run it.
- We service the system Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Often paired with
Audio usually goes in with TVs and video distribution in bars, and with AV control so staff run music and TVs from one panel. If you host nights with a DJ or band, see event audio and video. The full Queen Creek list is at Enzo in Queen Creek.
