Buffalo, NY Noise from Specific Sources: Car Alarm Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Maximum alarm duration
- 5 minutes
- Exemptions
- Emergency vehicles; alarms required by law; active warning signals in use
- Applies to
- Vehicles, vessels, engines, machines, stationary boilers
- Penalty
- Up to $1,500 or 15 days imprisonment
- Additional regulation
- § 263-12 requires alarm permits and imposes excessive-use fees after 3 avoidable alarms/year
Summary
Security alarms, horns, and other auditory signaling devices on vehicles or stationary equipment may not sound for more than five minutes, except when required by law or used as an active warning signal.
§ 293-4.J. The sounding of any horn, security alarm or other auditory signaling device in any vehicle, vessel, engine, machine or stationary boiler for period of time longer than five minutes, except as required by law or to provide a warning signal during use thereof. This provision shall not be construed to prohibit the use and operation of a signal device in an emergency vehicle.
Full Breakdown
The provision covers horns, security alarms, and any other auditory signaling device on vehicles, vessels, engines, machines, or stationary boilers. The five-minute cap does not apply to legally required signals or active warning signals during use. Emergency vehicles are explicitly exempt. Alarm monitoring companies and users are separately regulated by § 263-12, which requires permits, registration, and imposes fees for excessive false alarms.
Violations & Fines
Up to $1,500 fine or 15 days imprisonment per offense under § 293-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my car alarm keeps going off repeatedly?
Are commercial building alarms covered by the 5-minute rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Buffalo
New York rules heatmap·Compare Buffalo to another location·View the New York noise from specific sources overview
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