Columbus, OH Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)

Columbus City Code § 2137.27 bans operating a car radio, tape player, CD player, or other sound amplification system that can be heard 50 feet or more outside the vehicle on any street, highway, or public parking area, whether the car is moving or parked. Exceptions cover requests for emergency help, public-safety and city utility vehicles, and permitted parades. A first offense is a minor misdemeanor; ignoring a warning to stop within 12 hours, or a repeat conviction within a year, raises it to a fourth-degree misdemeanor. Columbus's separate community-noise ordinance, § 2329.11, sets parallel dBA and distance limits for stationary bass sources like home stereos.