(A) Noises prohibited.
(1) General prohibition. It is unlawful to make or cause to be made any noise that unreasonably annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, safety or welfare of others or precludes their enjoyment of property or adversely affects the value of this property. This general prohibition is not limited by the specific restrictions of the following divisions (A)(2) through (A)(10).
(2) Motor vehicles. It is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle in the city in violation of the motor vehicle noise limits of the state’s pollution control agency or in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(3) Horns, signaling devices and the like. It is unlawful to sound any signaling device on any vehicle, except as a warning of danger.
(4) Exhaust, except motor vehicles. It is unlawful to discharge or permit the discharge of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine, motor boat, motor vehicle or snowmobile, except through a muffler or other device that effectively prevents loud or explosive noises therefrom and complies with applicable state laws and regulations.
(5) Exhaust, motor vehicles. Every motor vehicle must at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order which blends the exhaust noise into the overall vehicle noise and is in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and no person may use a muffler cutout, bypass or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a street or highway. The exhaust system must not emit or produce a sharp popping or crackling sound.
(6) Defective vehicles or excessive loads. It is unlawful to operate any vehicle in a state of disrepair or overloaded so as to create loud and unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling or other noise.
(7) Loading, unloading, unpacking. It is unlawful to create loud and excessive noise in loading, unloading or unpacking any vehicle.
(8) Radios, stereo, CD and the like. It is unlawful to operate any radio receiving set, musical instrument, stereo or other device for the production or reproduction of sound in a manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of neighbors or others nearby. Operation of any set, instrument, phonograph, machine or other device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in a manner as to be plainly audible at a property line or at 50 feet from a vehicle, structure or building in which it is located is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
(9) Loud speakers, amplifiers for advertising and the like. It is unlawful to use or operate or permit the use or operation of any loud speaker, sound amplifier or other device for the production or reproduction of sound when the sound is cast upon a street or other public place for the purpose of commercial advertising or attracting the attention of the public to any commercial establishment or vehicle.
(10) Schools, churches, hospitals and the like. It is unlawful to create any excessive noise on a street, alley or public grounds adjacent to any school, institution of learning, church or hospital when the noise unreasonably interferes with the working of the institution or disturbs or unduly annoys its occupants or residents.
(Prior Code, § 645.03)
(B) Motor vehicle sound level requirements.
(1) A motor vehicle operated or driven on any highway within the city must comply with the noise limits of the state.
(2) Minn. Rules parts 7030.1000 to 7030.1600, regarding mufflers, are adopted and incorporated by reference.
(3) A motor vehicle with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 pounds or less operated or driven within the city, on any highway, public property or private property within a city, must also comply with the following standards when a stationary testing procedure is used:
Automobiles, vans, light trucks (GVWR- 10,000 pounds or less) | 95 dBA |
Motorcycles | 99 dBA |
(Prior Code, § 645.09)
Penalty, see § 135.99