Flint, MI Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 28-132
- Muffler cut-outs
- Prohibited on any highway
- Sirens/whistles/bells
- Emergency vehicles only
- Horn range required
- Audible from 200 feet
Summary
City of Flint law bars unreasonably loud horns, sirens on non-emergency vehicles, and muffler cut-out or bypass devices on any highway.
no horn or other warning device shall emit and unreasonable loud or harsh sound or whistle. No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle, or bell, except as otherwise provided in this ordinance pertaining to authorized emergency vehicles. No person shall use a muffler cut-out, bypass, or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2016 Code: Local legislation current through Ordinance 3821, passed 3-1-2012).
Full Breakdown
Under City of Flint Code § 28-132, every motor vehicle operated on a highway must carry a working horn, but the horn or any other warning device may not emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound. Sirens, whistles, and bells are barred outright except on authorized emergency vehicles. The same section separately bans muffler cut-outs, bypasses, or similar devices that let engine noise escape unmuffled. The rule sits in the traffic code's equipment article alongside brake and lighting requirements, so it is enforced as a vehicle-equipment violation rather than a general noise-nuisance citation.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 28-132 is a traffic ordinance civil infraction, enforced by the Flint Police Department at a traffic stop; repeat equipment violations can support a defective-equipment citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a cut-out or bypass exhaust in Flint?
Are aftermarket sirens legal on a personal car?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Flint
Compare Flint 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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.