Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Lakewood

Lakewood, WA Noise from Specific Sources: Car Alarm Limits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
LMC 8.36.010(B)(1)
Covered devices
Any horn or siren on a motor vehicle
Exception
Danger warnings or legally required use
First penalty
Civil fine up to $250
Repeat penalty (2 yrs)
Civil fine up to $500

Summary

In Lakewood, Washington, letting a car horn or siren sound frequently, repeatedly or continuously is a public disturbance noise unless it is warning of danger or required by law. A first violation is a civil penalty of up to $250, doubling to $500 for a repeat within two years.

1. The frequent, repetitive or continuous sounding of any horn or siren attached to a motor vehicle, except as a warning of danger or as specifically permitted or required by law.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 852, passed June 15, 2026).

Full Breakdown

010(A). The section does not name aftermarket alarm systems separately from factory horns and sirens; any device attached to the vehicle that sounds a horn or siren tone is covered once its sounding becomes frequent, repetitive or continuous, which is the language investigators use to distinguish a single legitimate honk from a malfunctioning or triggered alarm that keeps going off. The exception preserves genuine warning uses, such as a horn sounded to avoid a collision or a required emergency vehicle siren, so a one-time honk in traffic is not a violation. 36, and Lakewood police can act on a complaint from a neighbor or bystander without a separate alarm permit or registration system.

Violations & Fines

A first violation carries a civil penalty of up to $250.00 under LMC 8.36.010(D). A second or subsequent violation of the noise chapter within a two-year period is subject to a civil penalty of up to $500.00. Each incident of a continuously sounding horn or alarm can support a separate citation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a car alarm going off repeatedly illegal in Lakewood, WA?
Yes. LMC 8.36.010(B)(1) makes the frequent, repetitive or continuous sounding of a horn or siren attached to a motor vehicle a public disturbance noise, unless it is warning of actual danger or required by law, and it is enforced under the same civil penalty as the rest of the noise chapter.
Does Lakewood require alarm permits or registration?
No. The car alarm rule is one line inside the general public-disturbance noise chapter, LMC 8.36.010, not a standalone alarm ordinance, so there is no separate registration, permit or false-alarm fee system tied to vehicle horns or sirens in this code.
What happens if my neighbor's car alarm keeps going off?
A complaint can be reported to Lakewood police as a violation of LMC 8.36.010(B)(1). A first violation is a civil penalty of up to $250.00, and a repeat violation of the noise chapter within two years raises the maximum civil penalty to $500.00.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lakewood

Parking Rules: EV ChargingLight RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife FeedingSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Exotic PetsHeavy RestrictionsEnvironmental Rules: Boat Dock PermitsSome Restrictions

All Lakewood rules

Compare Lakewood to another location·View the Washington noise from specific sources overview

Get notified when Car Alarm Limits in Lakewood, WA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.