Arvada, CO Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

Section 38-62(11), 'Vehicles, standing,' makes it unlawful to operate, or permit the operation of, 'any motor vehicle in excess of 10,000 pounds, manufacturers gross vehicle weight, or any attached auxiliary equipment, for a consecutive period longer than ten minutes' while the vehicle is standing on a public right-of-way in a residential district, or on private property in a residential zone outside a fully enclosed structure. That targets prolonged truck or equipment idling in neighborhoods. Section 38-62(10) separately bars 'repairing, rebuilding, modifying or testing any truck, automobile, motorcycle, or other motor vehicle in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance,' tying vehicle repair noise back to the general disturbance standard.

Motorcycles get their own rule under § 38-62(12): any motorcycle manufactured after December 31, 1982 must carry an exhaust muffler bearing the federal EPA noise label required for its model year, visibly affixed to the muffler, and a police officer can stop a motorcycle based on the time of day, its proximity to a residence, hospital, or school, or the unusual, grating, or whining quality of its noise. Failing to produce the EPA label on request is treated as prima facie evidence of a violation at trial.

Horn use is separately regulated under § 38-62(4), which bars sounding a vehicle horn except as a danger warning, but allows brief horn celebrations for weddings or an Arvada sports team's win within two hours of the event.