Fulshear, TX Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Stereo distance limit
- 30 feet from vehicle
- Jake braking
- Banned citywide
- Idling limit
- 1 hour maximum
- Penalty
- Up to $500 per day
- Business defense
- 8am-8pm commercial sound use exempted
Summary
Fulshear bans loud vehicle noise from bad mufflers, jake brakes, and car stereos audible 30 feet away or causing felt vibration, under City Code § 18-229.
(a) The use of any motor vehicle so out of repair ... that it creates any loud and unreasonable ... sound is hereby prohibited and declared to be unlawful. ... (d) It is unlawful for any person operating or controlling a motor vehicle to operate any radio, stereo receiver, compact disc player, cassette tape player, or other similar device in the motor vehicle in such a manner that ... it is: (1) Audible ... at a distance of 30 feet or more from the vehicle, or (2) Causes vibration that can be felt at a distance of 30 feet or more from the vehicle.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4849270; v4 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Fulshear's Code of Ordinances bans loud vehicle noise in three ways: § 18-229(a) prohibits operating a motor vehicle so out of repair that it grinds, grates, or rattles unreasonably; § 18-229(b) bans jake braking (compression engine braking) outright, no exceptions for method used; and § 18-229(d) makes it unlawful to run a car radio, stereo, or CD player audible 30 feet from the vehicle or causing vibration felt at that distance. A business using sound equipment in the normal course of work between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. has an affirmative defense. The section also caps unattended engine idling at one hour.
Violations & Fines
Violating Fulshear's vehicle noise rules is a Class C misdemeanor, fined up to $500 per day under City Code § 1-17, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play loud music in my car in Fulshear?
Are loud exhausts or jake brakes illegal in Fulshear?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fulshear
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Fulshear to another location·View the Texas noise ordinances overview
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Vehicle Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fort Bend County handle vehicle noise.