Elkhart Lake Village Considers Tweaking Live Music Hours

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The village of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin is considering revising its noise ordinance to allow for slightly extended hours for live outdoor music on Sundays, but will not increase the permitted noise levels. The proposed changes were introduced at a recent Village Board meeting held virtually due to a blizzard.

Why it matters

Elkhart Lake is a small tourist town that relies on live music and outdoor events to draw visitors, but residents have raised concerns about noise levels disrupting the community. The village is trying to balance the economic needs of local businesses with quality of life issues for residents.

The details

The Village Board's Protection of Persons and Property Committee recommended changing the existing noise ordinance to extend the hours for live outdoor music on Sundays. However, the board indicated it would not allow for an increase in the permitted noise levels, which has been a point of contention between businesses and residents in the past.

• The revised noise ordinance was introduced at the Village Board meeting on Monday, March 18, 2026.
• The meeting was held virtually due to blizzard conditions in the area.

What’s next

The Village Board will continue to discuss the proposed noise ordinance changes at future meetings before deciding on any final revisions.