Huntsville, AL Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Audibility standard
- Plainly audible 25 feet away
- Applies to
- Parked, stopped, or moving vehicles
- Enforced by
- Huntsville Police Department
- Max penalty
- $500 fine, up to 6 months jail
- Exception
- Permitted special sound events only
Summary
Huntsville makes it illegal to run a car stereo or subwoofer loud enough to be heard 25 feet from the vehicle on any public street, whether the car is parked or moving.
No person shall operate or cause to be operated any sound amplification system, which includes any mechanical or electronic sound-making device or equipment that produces, reproduces, enhances, or amplifies sound, from, within, or upon a vehicle on the public right-of-way in such a manner as to be plainly audible to any person at least 25 feet from the vehicle from which the sound is emitted. Measurement of the audible sound shall be by the auditory senses, without enhancement by a mechanical device such as a microphone or hearing aid.(b)This section shall make no distinction between stopped, standing, parked or moving vehicles as long as the vehicle is upon the public right-of-way.(c)Possession by a person of the sound amplification system in subsection (a) of this section shall be prima facie evidence that the person operated the system.(d)This section shall not apply to the event conduct of an organized event that is a sound event for which a special event permit has been issued in accordance with chapter 23, article VI of this Code, provided that the event conduct is in compliance with any sound-event conditions set forth in the special event permit. Otherwise, this section shall apply. (Ord. No. 21-449, § 8, 5-27-2021; Ord. No. 25-77, § 4, 2-13-2025)
Editor's note— See note at § 12-294.
Secs. 12-299—12-330. - Reserved.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 12-298 bans sound amplification systems - car stereos, subwoofers, or any device that produces, reproduces, or amplifies sound - operated on a vehicle on a public right-of-way if the sound is plainly audible to a person standing at least 25 feet away. It applies the same whether the vehicle is parked, stopped, standing, or moving. Officers judge it by ear, not a decibel meter, and simply possessing the sound system is treated as proof you operated it. The one carve-out is a sound event running under an approved special event permit issued under Chapter 23, Article VI.
Violations & Fines
General Code penalty (Sec. 1-7): fine up to $500 and/or up to six months in jail per citation; enforced by Huntsville police.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter if my car is parked or driving?
How do police measure the noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntsville
Compare Huntsville to another location·View the Alabama noise from specific sources overview
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