Orem, UT Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Orem City Code Section 9-2-9(B)(1) lists vehicle sound systems among the acts declared to be loud, disturbing, or unnecessary noises under the city's disturbing the peace ordinance. The section prohibits using, operating, or permitting to be played any radio, stereo, sound system, tape player, or other sound-making device from within a motor vehicle so that the sound is plainly audible at a distance of fifty feet or more from the vehicle. "Plainly audible" is defined in the same subsection as any sound detectable by a person using unaided hearing, and the listener need not identify the song title, specific words, or the performing artist; detecting the rhythmic bass component of the music alone is sufficient to establish a plainly audible sound.

The subsection exempts law enforcement and emergency vehicles using communication equipment necessary for their duties. This vehicle stereo rule sits inside the broader disturbing-the-peace ordinance at Section 9-2-9(A), which makes it unlawful to make any excessive, unnecessary, or unusually loud noise that annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, or safety of others anywhere in Orem. ; otherwise it is charged as an infraction, both punishable under Utah Code Section 76-3-301.