Dearborn, MI Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Stereo audibility limit
- 25 feet from vehicle
- Stereo violation
- misdemeanor, up to $500/90 days
- Standard car exhaust limit
- 76-82 dBA by speed
- Exhaust cutouts/bypasses
- prohibited outright
Summary
Dearborn caps car stereo volume at 25 feet and sets dBA exhaust limits for vehicles operated on city streets, with misdemeanor fines up to $500 for stereos and civil-infraction penalties for illegal mufflers.
No person shall operate or permit the operation of a radio and/or electronically amplified sound system in, on, or from any motor vehicle so as to produce sound that is clearly audible more than 25 feet from the vehicle. This section shall make no distinction between parked and moving motor vehicles. Any person violating this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount not to exceed $500.00 or be imprisoned for a period not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-07: Code: Updated through: July 22, 2026 | Zoning: Updated through: July 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 18-430, no radio or electronically amplified sound system may be operated in, on, or from a motor vehicle so it is clearly audible more than 25 feet away, parked or moving; violators face a misdemeanor with up to $500 in fines and 90 days in jail. Sec. 18-431 separately requires a working exhaust system and sets total-noise limits by vehicle weight and speed (e.g., 82 dBA for standard cars under 35 mph, 76 dBA over 35 mph), with cutouts, bypasses, and amplifier devices banned outright. Wayne County sheriff and Dearborn police enforce both provisions on city streets.
Violations & Fines
Amplified car audio audible past 25 feet is a misdemeanor: up to $500 fine and/or 90 days jail. Exceeding the dBA exhaust limits or running a cutout/bypass device is a civil infraction, generally a $100 fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can my car stereo be in Dearborn?
Is a loud aftermarket exhaust illegal in Dearborn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dearborn
Compare Dearborn to another location·View the Michigan noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Vehicle Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle vehicle noise.