Saint Paul, MN Noise from Specific Sources: Delivery Truck Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- Saint Paul Legislative Code § 293.02(e)(1)
- Named vehicle type
- "Truck" specifically enumerated
- Standard
- Reasonable-person annoyance test
- Related rule
- § 293.05 muffler/exhaust requirement
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 90 days jail
Summary
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 293.02(e)(1) bans operating "any automobile, truck, motorcycle or other vehicle" in a way likely to cause significant annoyance to a reasonable person nearby: the city's general catch-all for loud commercial and delivery-truck noise, since Chapter 293 has no separate rule for delivery vehicles.
(1)Generally. It is a violation of this section to use any automobile, truck, motorcycle or other vehicle which causes or would be likely to cause significant discomfort or annoyance to a reasonable person of ordinary sensitivities present in the area due to loud, disturbing or excessive noise.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 133 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
" "Truck" is named explicitly alongside "automobile" and "motorcycle," so idling delivery trucks, box trucks running refrigeration units, or garbage and beverage trucks making early-morning stops in residential alleys all fall under this same standard rather than a truck-specific rule. Saint Paul has none. outside a residential building draws more scrutiny than the identical noise at noon on a commercial strip. 02(a) if it meets the "significant discomfort or annoyance" standard. Enforcement is complaint-based and handled by the Saint Paul Police Department, which can cite the truck's driver or, if the driver isn't present, treat the noise as an ongoing nuisance under the department of safety and inspections' broader Chapter 293 authority.
Violations & Fines
A § 293.02(e)(1) violation is a misdemeanor under the Chapter 293 penalty at subsection (f): up to a $1,000 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of a repeated early-morning delivery pattern chargeable as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a specific ordinance limiting delivery truck noise in Saint Paul?
Does the time of day matter for a truck-noise complaint?
Can a truck's exhaust noise be cited separately from § 293.02?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Saint Paul
Compare Saint Paul to another location·View the Minnesota noise from specific sources overview
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