Temecula council extends Old Town outdoor live-entertainment pilot for one year amid noise, compliance concerns

The Temecula City Council voted unanimously July 22 to extend the Old Town outdoor live-entertainment pilot program for one year, continuing limits on hours and noise standards while adding quarterly reviews and a three-strike revocation policy.

City planning staff said the pilot — created after 2023 council and planning-commission workshops — allowed temporary use permits (TUPs) for outdoor live entertainment in the Old Town core area as an ancillary activity to a primary business, limited to 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and excluding DJs and percussion. Staff recommended amending the Old Town Specific Plan to extend the pilot for one year and aligning existing TUP expiration dates with the extended deadline.

Planning staff told the council the pilot produced initial interest but yielded only two completed permit approvals; others either were ineligible or declined because of the restrictions or perceived application complexity. Staff noted the temporary-permit fee is $307 and described the application as two pages to fill out plus informational material.

Council members debated enforcement and practical compliance. Councilmember Ron asked whether a single reading over 70 decibels would trigger a citation; the city’s code-enforcement manager said officers calibrate decibel meters before shifts, submit annual calibration service to the vendor and take a minimum of three readings within 30 minutes from the nearest public sidewalk or adjacent property to generate an average sound level for enforcement. The manager said citations are issued when that average exceeds the 70 dBA standard.

“The decibel reader is sent to the company for calibration once a year to ensure the accuracy,” the code-enforcement manager said. “A minimum of three readings are taken within 30 minutes, and the decibel reader report determines an actual average.”

Councilmembers and staff described outreach and education steps to make the application and compliance process clearer. Staff said a planner is available at the counter and by phone to assist applicants and that hand‑drawn plans are accepted; no professional engineering is required.

Councilmember Stewart said she supported the extension because it expands tools available to downtown businesses: “This is just another tool in the toolbox to create the kind of environment someone would want for their restaurant,” she said. Council members also stressed balancing business vitality with nearby residents’ expectations of a family-friendly downtown.

The council approved the resolution extending the pilot by a one-year amendment to the Old Town Specific Plan and directed staff to provide quarterly updates to the Old Town Steering Subcommittee. Staff also proposed extending the effective dates of existing TUPs to align with the new sunset date so holders would not have to reapply immediately.

The vote was 5–0. The council did not change the pilot’s noise standard, hours or the prohibition on DJs and percussion as part of this action; members said they expect to re-evaluate the program after the extension.

Proponents and opponents of the program can expect additional outreach from staff, and the city will report quarterly to the Old Town Steering Subcommittee on permit issuance, compliance and any recommended adjustments.