Grand Rapids, MI Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime audibility limit
- 50 feet
- Nighttime audibility limit
- 25 feet
- Hours split
- 7am-10pm / 10pm-7am
- Exempt
- Police, fire, public service vehicles
Summary
Grand Rapids bans vehicle sound systems audible 50 feet away between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., dropping to 25 feet audibility overnight, for stopped or moving vehicles.
No person operating or in control of a stopped or moving motor vehicle shall operate or permit the operation of a sound system in the vehicle so as to produce sound that is clearly audible fifty (50) feet from the vehicle between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., or clearly audible twenty-five (25) feet from the vehicle between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.; provided, however, this section shall not apply to the sound system of a police, fire, or other public service motor vehicle while the public service vehicle is being used in the performance of public service work.
(Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19)
Sec. 9.70.1. - Penalties.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
Section 9.70, Sound Systems in Motor Vehicles, bars operating or permitting a vehicle sound system to produce sound clearly audible 50 feet from the vehicle between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., or audible 25 feet away between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., whether the vehicle is stopped or moving. Police, fire, and other public-service vehicles performing public service work are exempt. A separate provision, Section 9.63(11), bars altering a vehicle's muffler in a way that increases noise rather than reduces it.
Violations & Fines
Municipal civil infraction under Chapter 170 for each violation; officers may also cite a warning-first approach before further enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can my car stereo be in Grand Rapids?
Does Grand Rapids also regulate loud mufflers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
Compare Grand Rapids to another location·View the Michigan noise ordinances overview
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Vehicle Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kent County handle vehicle noise.