Kirkland, WA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- KMC 11.84A.070(1),(2),(5)
- Car audio limit
- Audible beyond 50 feet is a violation
- Watercraft audio limit
- Audible beyond 300 feet is a violation
- Horn/siren rule
- Frequent, repetitive use banned except as warning
- Penalty class
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 or 90 days
Summary
Kirkland's public disturbance ordinance bans frequent or continuous vehicle horns and sirens except as safety warnings, bans disruptive engine testing or repair noise in residential areas, and caps vehicle audio systems at being audible no more than fifty feet from the car. KMC 11.84A.070 treats each as a public disturbance noise violation.
It is unlawful for any person to cause, or for any person in possession of property to allow to originate from the property, sound that is a public disturbance noise. The following sounds are determined to be public disturbance noises: (1) The frequent, repetitive or continuous sounding of any horn or siren attached to a motor vehicle or watercraft, except as a warning of danger or as specifically permitted or required by law; (2) The creation of frequent, repetitive or continuous sounds in connection with the starting, operation, repair, rebuilding or testing of any motor vehicle, motorcycle, off-highway vehicle, watercraft or internal combustion engine within a residential district, so as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the peace, comfort and repose of owners or possessors of real property; ... (5) Sound from any motor vehicle or watercraft audio sound systems, such as tape players, radios, docking stations and compact disc players, operated at a volume so as to be audible greater than fifty feet from the vehicle or three hundred feet from the watercraft itself;
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4945, passed July 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
070, Public Disturbance Noises, makes it unlawful for anyone to cause, or for a property possessor to allow to originate from their property, sound that the section defines as a public disturbance noise. Three of its seven categories target vehicles directly. Subsection (1) bars the frequent, repetitive or continuous sounding of any horn or siren on a motor vehicle or watercraft, except as a warning of danger or as required by law, covering car alarms and drivers leaning on a horn outside of an emergency.
Subsection (2) bars frequent or continuous sounds from starting, operating, repairing, rebuilding or testing a motor vehicle, motorcycle, off-highway vehicle, watercraft or internal combustion engine within a residential district when it unreasonably disturbs the peace of neighboring property owners, reaching late-night engine revving or backyard vehicle repair work. Subsection (5) sets a specific distance standard for vehicle audio: sound from a car or watercraft stereo, radio, or docking station is a violation if it can be heard louder than fifty feet from the vehicle, or three hundred feet from a watercraft.
010 they default to misdemeanors, prosecutable in Kirkland Municipal Court. The rule exempts city-sponsored or permitted events where boat participation is a planned element, and it does not apply to regularly scheduled park events like public address systems for ballgames.
Violations & Fines
A vehicle noise violation under KMC 11.84A.070 is a misdemeanor, since the section doesn't designate it a civil infraction. Conviction is punished under KMC 1.04.010(c) by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both. Kirkland police can cite drivers on the spot for excessive horn use, disruptive engine noise in residential areas, or car stereos audible beyond fifty feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can my car stereo legally be in Kirkland?
Can my neighbor report me for revving my car engine at night?
Is honking my horn illegal in Kirkland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kirkland
Compare Kirkland to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
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Vehicle Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle vehicle noise.