By Brian Eason, Colorado Sun | From a broadcast article by Dan Boyce and Bente Birkeland, Colorado Public Radio | A bill to make it clear in state law that Colorado cities and towns are in charge of setting noise limits within their borders failed in a House committee by a single vote Tuesday, after handily clearing the Senate.
Lawmakers expressed concerns that the proposal usurped the right of Colorado residents to live peacefully in their homes.
Senate Bill 98 came in direct response to a ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court last September that found the city of Salida had improperly issued a permit to a downtown bar for live outdoor music events at louder volumes than allowed in state law.
Colorado’s 1971 Noise Abatement Act provides statewide protections, particularly for noise in residential areas, that a local community cannot override except in limited circumstances. Those circumstances do not include providing exemptions for private businesses, the court ruled.
Proponents of the legislation said the Salida ruling set a potentially destructive precedent for local economies. For decades, cities across the state had been offering noise permits to private operations, for events ranging from concerts on brewery patios to music festivals.
While the impact of the bill would have been felt statewide, debate over the legislation focused almost entirely on one property: The Ford Amphitheater in Colorado Springs. The city’s first major outdoor music venue has faced both acclaim and controversy from the beginning.
. . . . . . . . . .
Go here to read more on a potential law that may effect your favorite local venue:
https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/16/local-noise-laws-colorado-bill-fails/
