Newark, OH Environmental Rules: Vehicle Idling Restrictions (2026)

Newark's idling rule is a noise rule, found in the Noise Control Ordinance rather than an air-quality chapter. Section 634.04(a)(5)A of the Newark Code of Ordinances prohibits any person in the City of Newark, Ohio from operating or permitting the operation of any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating in excess of 10,000 pounds, or any auxiliary equipment attached to such a vehicle, for a period longer than five minutes in any hour while the vehicle is stationary, in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance, for reasons other than traffic congestion, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day.

Every element has to be met. The vehicle must exceed 10,000 pounds GVWR, which Section 634.02(7) defines as the value the manufacturer specifies as the recommended maximum loaded weight of a single motor vehicle, or for separable trailers and tractors the gross combination weight rating. It must be stationary and running, together with any auxiliary equipment such as a refrigeration unit, for more than five minutes within an hour. The time must fall in the 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. window. And the running must create a noise disturbance, defined as any sound that endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals, annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, or endangers or injures personal or real property.

The code states no daytime idling limit and no fuel or emissions standard. Idling by lighter vehicles is not addressed in this paragraph, and traffic congestion is the one stated exception. Paragraph (5)B separately targets racing the motor and tire squeal. Section 634.05 also caps sound at residential receiving property at 50 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., and Section 634.06(b)(2) exempts refuse collection vehicles from those Table 1 levels.