Inglewood, CA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard
- noise causing reasonable-person discomfort/annoyance
- Covers
- mufflers, stereos, engine modifications
- Repair/testing curfew
- 8:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m., residential areas (§ 5-44)
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 5-43
- Penalty
- misdemeanor, public nuisance (§ 5-49)
- Adopted
- Ord. 88-29, September 13, 1988
Summary
Inglewood bans operating any motor vehicle whose condition, operation or modification creates noise causing a reasonable person discomfort or annoyance. Section 5-43 covers loud mufflers, stereos and engine modifications citywide, while Section 5-44 separately bars vehicle repair or engine testing in residential areas between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Violators face misdemeanor charges under Section 5-49.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor driven vehicle within the City that, due to the nature of the operation of the vehicle, or due to the operating condition of the vehicle, or due to any modification made to vehicle, generates noise so that a reasonable person is caused discomfort or annoyance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4954608; v8 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
' The reasonable-person standard, rather than a fixed decibel ceiling, lets Code Enforcement and the Inglewood Police Department cite excessively loud mufflers, aftermarket exhaust systems, oversized sound systems and revving engines without first measuring the sound with a meter. The section sits in the same noise article, adopted by Ordinance 88-29 in 1988, as the City's rules on amplified sound trucks and construction equipment, and it applies to any street, driveway or parking area within Inglewood at any hour. if a reasonable person residing nearby is caused discomfort or annoyance, covering late-night mechanic work, engine tuning and diagnostic revving that Section 5-43 alone might not reach.
Both sections funnel into the general noise-violation remedy in Section 5-49, so a driver cited for a modified exhaust and a homeowner running an engine test at midnight face the same misdemeanor and nuisance-abatement exposure.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Section 5-43 or Section 5-44 is a misdemeanor and a declared public nuisance under Section 5-49. Inglewood police can issue a citation on the spot for a loud exhaust or stereo, and the City can additionally seek a court injunction or restraining order to stop repeat offenders, with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a ticket for a loud exhaust in Inglewood?
Is there a curfew on car repairs at home?
Does the loud-stereo rule apply on private property?
What is the penalty for violating the vehicle noise rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Inglewood
California rules heatmap·Compare Inglewood to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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