Jersey City, NJ Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Muffler tampering ban
- § 222-5.5.A
- Motorcycle muffler standard
- 40 CFR Part 205, § 222-5.5.B
- Nighttime stereo audibility cap
- 25 ft, 10 p.m.–8 a.m.
- Daytime stereo audibility cap
- 50 ft, 8 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Ice cream truck jingles
- Only while vehicle in motion
- Enforcement track
- Deemed purposeful, non-minor
Summary
Jersey City bans removing or disabling a motor vehicle's or motorcycle's factory noise-control equipment, requires motorcycle mufflers to meet federal noise standards, and caps vehicle stereo audibility at 25 feet at night and 50 feet by day under Section 222-5.5. All four subsections are treated as purposeful, non-minor violations.
Violations of paragraphs A through D of this section shall be considered purposeful and therefore not a minor violation. A. No person shall remove or render inoperative ... any device or element of design incorporated in any motor vehicle for the purpose of noise control. ... C. 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: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52).
Full Breakdown
5 of Chapter 222 (Motor Vehicles) opens by declaring that violations of its paragraphs A through D 'shall be considered purposeful and therefore not a minor violation', a stricter enforcement track than the rest of the noise code. Subsection A bars removing, rendering inoperative, or otherwise defeating any factory noise-control device or design element on a motor vehicle, other than for maintenance, repair or replacement, and bars operating a vehicle so modified, whether stationary or moving, in any public space or right-of-way. Subsection B requires that no motorcycle be operated, stationary or moving, unless equipped with a muffler that complies with and is labeled in accordance with the federal noise regulations at 40 CFR Part 205.
m. , and separately bars ice cream and food vending trucks in residential neighborhoods from playing jingles while stationary, jingles may only play while the truck is in motion. E rather than getting an initial warning-only NOV.
Violations & Fines
A vehicle with a disabled muffler/noise-control device, a noncompliant motorcycle muffler, or a stereo audible beyond the 25-foot (night) or 50-foot (day) limits is treated as a purposeful, non-minor violation under Section 222-5.5, meaning the owner goes straight to a notice of penalty assessment with a civil fine of up to $2,000 per offense under Section 222-5.6.B/E, contestable at a municipal court hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to remove a car's factory muffler in Jersey City?
How loud can a car stereo be in Jersey City?
Can ice cream trucks play jingles while parked in Jersey City neighborhoods?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jersey City
Compare Jersey City to another location·View the New Jersey noise ordinances overview
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