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Stark County, OH Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Audibility limit
50 feet (Canton 509.05)
Bass included
Yes; words need not be clear
Exhaust rule
Effective muffler required
State muffler law
ORC 4513.22
Repeat penalty
Escalates; system may be seized

Summary

Canton bars vehicle sound systems 'plainly audible' 50 or more feet away, and prohibits loud exhaust discharged without an effective muffler. Stark County itself sets no separate motor-vehicle noise code; Ohio law (ORC 4513.22) also requires working mufflers statewide.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Stark County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

No person operating or occupying a motor vehicle on a street, highway, alley, parking lot or driveway shall operate or permit the operation of any sound amplification system from within the vehicle so that the sound is plainly audible at a distance of fifty or more feet from the vehicle.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026-01: Local legislation current through May 18, 2026 | State legislation current through December 31, 2025).

Full Breakdown

Canton Codified Ordinance 509.05 prohibits operating a motor-vehicle sound amplification system so that it is 'plainly audible at a distance of fifty or more feet from the vehicle': a stopped or moving car on any street, alley, lot or driveway. Bass reverberations count, and words need not be discernible. Separately, Ord. 509.03(b) lists loud horns, defective/rattling vehicles, and un-muffled exhaust as prohibited noises. Statewide, ORC 4513.22 requires every motor vehicle to have a muffler preventing excessive noise. Stark County adds no countywide vehicle-noise rule; enforcement is by Canton police or, in unincorporated areas, the county Sheriff under state law.

Violations & Fines

Canton 509.05 violations are a minor misdemeanor escalating to fourth- then third-degree on repeats; on conviction the sound system may be confiscated under ORC 2933.41.

Frequently Asked Questions

How loud can my car stereo be in Canton?
Not 'plainly audible' 50 feet or more from the vehicle under Ord. 509.05. Bass counts, and the car may be parked or moving. Violations are a minor misdemeanor.
Are loud exhausts illegal in Stark County?
Yes. Canton 509.03 bars un-muffled exhaust, and Ohio ORC 4513.22 requires a working muffler on every vehicle statewide, enforced by police or the county Sheriff.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Stark County

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsQuiet HoursSome RestrictionsConstruction HoursSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsDecibel LimitsSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsLeaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Stark County rules

Compare Stark County to another location·View the Ohio noise ordinances overview

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