Clay County, FL Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)

Section 15-5(c) governs "artificially amplified sound or noise," defined at 15-5(a)(2) to include sound produced through a media player, radio device or sound producing instrument. Subsection (c)(4) singles out vehicles: a driver may not use, operate, or permit to be used or operated within their motor vehicle any media player, radio device or sound producing instrument whose sound is heard by a person of ordinary hearing ability inside the "completely enclosed" passenger compartment of another car on the road. "Completely enclosed" is defined at 15-5(a)(3) as fully enclosed in glass, fiberglass or metal, with all windows shut, doors latched and removable tops secured.

Vehicle owners and lessees can be treated as exercising control over the violation under 15-5(c)(5) unless a third-party invitee caused it and reasonable steps were taken to abate it or remove the person. Enforcement runs through the county's civil-citation process in section 15-20 as a nonexclusive alternative to criminal prosecution; a (c)(4) violation is a category 1 civil infraction ($25) for a first offense, category 3 ($75) for a second, and category 6 ($150) for a habitual violation within 180 days, per 15-20(j). 69, Florida Statutes, punishable by up to $500 and 60 days in the county jail.

Section 15-5(l) confines this whole section to the unincorporated area of Clay County; Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, Keystone Heights and Penney Farms enforce their own codes.