York County, PA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Property dBA
- Municipal, if any
- Vehicle rule
- 67 Pa. Code Ch. 157
- Car limit ≤35 mph
- 76 dBA (soft site)
- Car limit >35 mph
- 82 dBA (soft site)
- Measured at
- 50 feet from centerline
Summary
York County sets no countywide decibel standard for property noise. Pennsylvania does set enforceable motor-vehicle decibel limits by state regulation, measured 50 feet from the road: for cars, 76 dBA at 35 mph or less and 82 dBA above 35 mph.
No person shall operate either a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles of a type subject to registration at any time or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration in such a manner as to exceed the sound levels [in Table 1].
Full Breakdown
For homes and businesses, any numeric decibel limit is set by your municipality; York County has no countywide dBA ordinance, and many boroughs use a subjective noise-disturbance standard instead of decibels. For vehicles, 67 Pa. Code Chapter 157 sets specific, enforceable limits by vehicle type and speed, measured at 50 feet from the centerline: passenger vehicles 76 dBA at 35 mph or less (82 dBA above 35 mph), motorcycles 82/86 dBA, and heavy vehicles 86/90 dBA. These vehicle limits apply statewide, including throughout York County, and back up the Vehicle Code muffler and noise rules.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the state vehicle dBA table is a summary traffic offense; municipal property-noise limits are enforced locally as noise disturbances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does York County have a decibel limit?
What is Pennsylvania's vehicle decibel limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in York County
Compare York County to another location·View the Pennsylvania noise ordinances overview
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