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Denver, CO Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Muffler required
Working muffler mandatory at all times
Jake Brakes
Compression engine brakes banned citywide
Stereo audibility limit
Plainly audible from 25 feet
Amplified sound permit
Required from Excise and Licenses
First offense fine
$50 minimum, no suspension

Summary

Denver bans excessive vehicle exhaust noise, requires working mufflers, prohibits Jake Brakes citywide, and caps car stereo volume at plainly audible from 25 feet without a permit.

No person shall operate nor shall the owner permit the operation of any motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles with vehicle auxiliary equipment that exceeds the allowable sound pressure levels of section 36-6, Table A. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, or for the owner of any motor vehicle to permit the operation of any motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles at any time, that is not equipped with a muffler in good working order.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).

Full Breakdown

Denver's Revised Municipal Code makes it unlawful to drive a vehicle without a muffler in good working order or with auxiliary equipment that exceeds the sound pressure limits set in the Table A noise chart (DRMC § 36-8). Compression engine brakes, Jake Brakes, are banned outright anywhere in the city and county under § 36-7(a)(4). Car stereos, loudspeakers and other sound-amplifying equipment in a vehicle can't be plainly audible from 25 feet away unless the owner has a same-day permit from the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses under § 38-89(b); unpermitted amplified sound draws a fine starting at $50 for a first offense and climbing to $999 by a fourth.

Violations & Fines

First stereo-noise offense: $50 fine minimum; second $250; third $500; fourth+ up to $999 and up to a year in Denver County Jail in place of or with the fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a ticket for a loud exhaust in Denver?
Yes. DRMC § 36-8 requires every vehicle to have a working muffler and bars auxiliary equipment that exceeds the city's Table A sound limits; driving without one is a citable offense.
Are Jake Brakes illegal in Denver?
Yes. DRMC § 36-7(a)(4) bans operating an engine compression brake ('Jake Brake') anywhere in the City and County of Denver, including on city-owned property.
How loud can my car stereo be in Denver?
It can't be plainly audible from 25 feet away unless you hold a same-day amplified-sound permit from Excise and Licenses; first violation carries a minimum $50 fine.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Denver

Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsConstruction HoursSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsAircraft NoiseLight RestrictionsDecibel LimitsSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingFew RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Groomer RulesSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Smoke DetectorsSome Restrictions

All Denver rules

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