Kings County, CA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

Engine, exhaust, and modified-muffler noise from vehicles on public roads in unincorporated Kings County is regulated almost entirely by state law rather than a county ordinance. The Kings County Code's vehicles-and-traffic chapter (Chapter 23) covers parking, speed, abandoned vehicles, and signage but contains no muffler or vehicle-noise section. California Vehicle Code Section 27150 requires every motor vehicle to have an adequate muffler in good working order and prohibits modified exhaust that amplifies or increases noise, and Section 27151 bars exhaust modifications that exceed legal noise limits; the Vehicle Code also sets maximum decibel levels by vehicle class. These statewide rules are enforced by the Kings County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol. Separately, the County does regulate amplified sound projected from a vehicle: Chapter 8, Article II requires a Board of Supervisors permit to operate a loudspeaker mounted on a vehicle over public roads or public places in the unincorporated county. So a loud aftermarket exhaust is a state Vehicle Code matter, while a vehicle blasting announcements or music through a PA implicates the county loudspeaker permit and the general noise-nuisance rule.