Hackensack, NJ Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Modified exhaust/noise device
- prohibited, § 112-10A
- Motorcycle muffler standard
- 40 CFR Part 205 compliant
- Night stereo audibility limit
- 25 feet, 10 p.m.-8 a.m.
- Day stereo audibility limit
- 50 feet, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Violation classification
- purposeful, nonminor by default
- Maximum civil fine
- $2,000 per offense
Summary
Hackensack's Chapter 112 noise ordinance bans removing or disabling a vehicle's factory noise-control equipment, requires motorcycles to run a federally compliant muffler, and caps vehicle stereo volume by distance and time of day: no music audible beyond 25 feet from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., or beyond 50 feet during daytime hours. Every subsection of § 112-10 is treated as a purposeful, nonminor violation.
No person shall remove or render inoperative, or cause to be removed or rendered inoperative or less effective than originally equipped, other than for the purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement, of any device or element of design incorporated in any motor vehicle for the purpose of noise control. ... Personal or commercial vehicular music amplification or reproduction equipment shall not be operated in such a manner that it is plainly audible at distance of 25 feet in any direction from the operator between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4592721; v20 updated 2026-01-06; through 01-06-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 112-10, part of the Chapter 112 noise ordinance adopted April 10, 2018, targets vehicle noise sources separately from the chapter's property-based decibel tables. Subsection A prohibits removing, disabling or degrading any factory-installed noise-control device on a motor vehicle other than for maintenance, repair or replacement, and bars operating a vehicle that has been so modified in any public space or right-of-way. Subsection B requires every motorcycle operated in the city, stationary or moving, to run a muffler that complies with and is labeled under the federal noise regulations at 40 CFR Part 205.
the threshold relaxes to 50 feet. The ordinance singles this section out for stricter treatment than the rest of Chapter 112: § 112-10 states that a violation of any of its subsections is considered purposeful and therefore a nonminor violation, skipping the notice-of-violation grace period that applies to a first minor breach elsewhere in the chapter.
Violations & Fines
Because every § 112-10 violation is defined as purposeful and nonminor, a Noise Control Officer or Investigator can issue a notice of penalty assessment on the first offense rather than a warning notice. A NOPA carries a civil fine of up to $2,000 under § 112-11B and N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, with each day of a continuing violation, such as an unmuffled motorcycle still in use, treated as a separate offense. The recipient can request a municipal court hearing to contest the assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can I play my car stereo in Hackensack at night?
Is it illegal to modify my exhaust to be louder in Hackensack?
Why are vehicle noise violations treated more harshly than other noise complaints in Hackensack?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hackensack
Compare Hackensack to another location·View the New Jersey noise ordinances overview
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