Reno, NV Noise from Specific Sources: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Audibility limit
- 25 feet from the vehicle
- Citation
- Reno Municipal Code § 6.06.290
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
- Exemption
- Emergency vehicles and warning sounds
Summary
Reno bans amplified sound, including bass-heavy car stereos, that's audible 25 feet from a parked or operating vehicle under Reno Municipal Code Section 6.06.290; emergency vehicle alerts are exempt.
It shall be unlawful for any person, while parked or operating a motorized vehicle upon a highway to create or allow amplified sound within the vehicle which is audible at a distance of 25 feet from the vehicle. This section shall not apply to emergency vehicles or to the emission of sound to alert persons to the existence of an emergency or break-in.
(Ord. No. 6153, § 1, 6-9-10; Ord. No. 6267, § 1, 11-7-12; Ord. No. 6316, § 1, 1-29-14)
Editor's note— Formerly § 6.06.190.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Administrative Code: Supplement 64 | Land Development Code: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Reno Municipal Code Section 6.06.290 makes it unlawful for anyone, while parked or operating a motor vehicle on a highway, to create or allow amplified sound inside the vehicle that's audible 25 feet away: the standard city police use for thumping car-stereo bass complaints. The rule applies citywide, not just downtown, and covers any amplified sound system, not only bass-heavy setups. It doesn't apply to emergency vehicles or to sound emitted to warn people of an emergency or a break-in. Reno Police can cite drivers on the spot; a first violation falls under the Code's general penalty of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
Violations & Fines
Driving or parking with amplified sound audible 25 feet away is a citable misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail under RMC Section 1.04.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is loud car stereo bass illegal in Reno?
Does the Reno bass noise rule apply to home stereos?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reno
Compare Reno to another location·View the Nevada noise from specific sources overview
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