Eugene, OR Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- EC 6.750(a)
- Requirement
- Effective muffler on exhaust
- Race exception hours
- 7 a.m.-10 p.m., licensed events only
- General fine
- Up to $200 per violation
- Civil penalty cap
- Up to $2,000/day
Summary
Eugene bans discharging vehicle, motorboat, or engine exhaust into the open air without a muffler that prevents loud or explosive noise, under EC 6.750(a). The rule reaches steam engines, stationary internal combustion engines, motorboats, and motor vehicles, with a narrow carve-out for licensed vehicle spectator sports between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
(a) Exhausts. Discharging into the open air the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine, motorboat, motor vehicle, or any mechanical device operated by compressed air or steam without a muffler or other device which will effectively prevent the emission of loud or explosive noises except where such discharge is from vehicles used for participation in vehicle spectator sports activities between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., and the activities are properly licensed by the city and consistent with its zoning ordinance.
Full Breakdown
750(a) declares it a noise disturbance to discharge into the open air the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine, motorboat, motor vehicle, or mechanical device operated by compressed air or steam, without a muffler or other device that effectively prevents loud or explosive noise. , provided the activity is properly licensed by the city and consistent with its zoning ordinance. Outside that window, or without the license and zoning consistency, defective-muffler exhaust noise from any vehicle is a violation regardless of a specific decibel reading, because the section is written as an equipment requirement rather than a numeric limit.
080; a muffler-equipped vehicle can still be cited under that separate general standard if it is plainly audible in a qualifying way. 260, when responding to or from an emergency. 750 was last amended by Ordinance No. 20680, effective January 24, 2023.
Violations & Fines
Operating a vehicle, motorboat, or engine without an effective muffler in violation of EC 6.750(a) is punishable by a fine of up to $200 under EC 6.992, or the city manager can instead impose an administrative civil penalty of up to $2,000 per day under EC 6.995 and EC 2.018, after attempting voluntary correction. Vehicles in properly licensed spectator racing events between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. are not cited under this section. Penalty decisions may be appealed to a hearings officer under EC 2.021.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Eugene regulate loud car exhaust?
Are racetrack or car show events exempt?
What's the fine for a defective muffler complaint?
Does this rule cover stereo noise too, or just exhaust?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Eugene
Compare Eugene to another location·View the Oregon noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.