Island County, WA Noise from Specific Sources: Car Alarm Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Island County Code § 9.60.030(A)(2)
- Restricted hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- Exception
- Danger warnings or legally required signals
- 1st offense
- Class 4, $25.00
- 2nd offense
- Class 2, $125.00
- 3rd offense
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000/90 days
Summary
Island County Code § 9.60.030(A)(2) bans frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounding of any horn or siren attached to a motor vehicle between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless it is warning of danger or otherwise required by law.
2.The frequent, repetitive or continuous sounding of any horn or siren attached to a motor vehicle between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., except as a warning of danger or as specifically permitted or required by law;
Full Breakdown
' A malfunctioning or improperly armed car alarm that repeatedly triggers overnight in unincorporated Island County falls squarely within this clause, since the ordinance does not distinguish between an alarm system and any other horn or siren mounted on the vehicle. The nighttime window matches the rest of the chapter's vehicle-related provisions, including engine noise under (A)(3), and the exception preserves legitimate emergency and warning uses. 040(B) removes the need for a sound-level meter reading to prove the offense, so repeated 911 or Sheriff's Office calls documenting a specific vehicle's alarm going off overnight can be enough.
00, and a third or subsequent violation within the year is a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 in fines, 90 days in jail, or both. 040(C).
Violations & Fines
Sounding a car alarm, horn, or siren repeatedly between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. without a danger-warning or legal justification violates § 9.60.030(A)(2). A first offense in a year is a $25.00 Class 4 civil infraction, a second is a $125.00 Class 2 civil infraction, and a third or later offense within the year is a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 in fines and 90 days in jail under § 9.60.040(A). The Island County Sheriff's Office enforces the section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a rule against car alarms going off at night in Island County?
What penalty applies to a repeat car alarm violation?
Who enforces the nighttime car alarm rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Island County
Compare Island County to another location·View the Washington noise from specific sources overview
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