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Highlands County, FL Noise from Specific Sources: Car Alarm Limits (2026)

Light Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Exemption window: First 15 minutes of alarm sounding, § 5.6-107(1)
Loses exemption: Fixed building AND vehicular burglar alarms past 15 min
Falls back to: General noise rule, § 5.6-104
Penalty: Class I civil infraction, § 5.6-110(c)

Summary

Highlands County exempts alarms from its noise ordinance only while they're doing their job. Section 5.6-107(1) carves emergency and burglar alarms out of the noise rules, but the same subsection removes that protection from a fixed building or vehicular burglar alarm, meaning a car alarm, once it has been sounding for more than 15 minutes.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Highlands County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(1)The emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of an emergency or the performance of emergency work. This exception shall not apply to fixed building or vehicular burglar alarms when sounded for a period in excess of 15 minutes.

View official code

Full Breakdown

6 of the Highlands County Code. The first exemption covers "the emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of an emergency or the performance of emergency work," language broad enough to include a vehicle burglar alarm doing its job of alerting an owner to a break-in. 6-105. 6-110, and the offense is treated as a Class I civil infraction, with every day the disturbance continues (relevant for a malfunctioning alarm left unaddressed) a separate infraction. 6-106(a) confirms that measurements are not necessary if the conduct is already covered by a specific prohibition.

Violations & Fines

A car alarm that keeps sounding past the 15-minute mark loses its exemption under section 5.6-107(1) and becomes an ordinary noise violation under sections 5.6-104 and 5.6-105. A code enforcement officer or sheriff's deputy can cite the vehicle owner, and the offense is a Class I civil infraction under section 5.6-110(c) without needing a decibel reading, since duration alone establishes the violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal for my car alarm to go off in Highlands County?

Yes, for the first 15 minutes. Section 5.6-107(1) exempts alarm noise meant to alert people to an emergency, but that exemption expressly does not apply to a fixed building or vehicular burglar alarm sounded for more than 15 minutes, at which point it becomes an ordinary noise violation.

What happens if my neighbor's car alarm won't stop?

Once it passes 15 minutes, the alarm loses its exemption under section 5.6-107(1) and can be reported to Highlands County Code Enforcement or the Sheriff's Office as a general noise disturbance under section 5.6-104. No decibel measurement is required; the 15-minute duration alone supports a citation.

Does this rule cover home burglar alarms too?

Yes. Section 5.6-107(1) treats a fixed building alarm the same as a vehicular one: both lose their exemption from the noise ordinance once they sound for more than 15 minutes, and both can then be cited as an ordinary noise disturbance.

Sources & Official References

[1]Highlands County Code of Ordinances (Municode)

Other rules in Highlands County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSignificant Restrictions Delivery Truck NoiseSome Restrictions Bar & Nightclub NoiseSome Restrictions HVAC & Mechanical NoiseSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Exotic PetsSignificant Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Highlands County rules

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