Lee's Summit, MO Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Heavy vehicle limit
- 92-96 dba by speed, Sec. 17-257(A)
- Motorcycle limit
- 90-94 dba by speed
- Standard vehicle limit
- 84-88 dba by speed
- Measurement distance
- 25 feet (7.5 meters) from vehicle
- Muffler requirement
- working muffler required at all times
- Truck idling cap
- 30 min/hour within 150 feet of homes, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
Summary
Lee's Summit caps motor vehicle and motorcycle noise on public roads under City Code Sec. 17-257: 84 to 92 dba depending on vehicle weight and speed, measured 25 feet from the vehicle, plus a hard requirement that every vehicle run a working muffler. Idling trucks over 10,000 pounds near homes at night face a separate 30-minute limit.
A.No person shall operate or cause to be operated a public or private motor vehicle or motorcycle on a public right-of-way at any time in such a manner that the sound emitted by the motor vehicle or motorcycle exceeds the level, as follows: All motor vehicles of GVWR or GCWR of 10,000 lbs. or more: 92, 96, 94; Any motorcycle: 90, 94, 90; Any other motor vehicle or any combination of vehicles towed by any motor vehicle: 84, 88, 84. B.1.No person shall operate or cause to be operated any motor vehicle or motorcycle not equipped with a muffler or other sound dissipative device in good working order and in constant operation. D.No person shall operate or permit the operation of any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (CVWR) in excess of ten thousand (10,000) pounds...for a period longer than thirty (30) minutes in any hour while the vehicle is stationary...on a public right-of-way or public space within one hundred fifty (150) feet (forty-six (46) meters) of a residential area or designated noise sensitive zone, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55 | Unified Development Ordinance: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
5 meters), that scale with vehicle weight and posted speed. Heavy vehicles rated 10,000 pounds GVWR or GCWR or more may not exceed 92 dba at speeds of 35 mph or less, 96 dba above 35 mph, or 94 dba on a stationary run-up. Motorcycles are capped at 90, 94 and 90 dba for the same three conditions, and any other motor vehicle, or a vehicle towing another, is capped at 84, 88 and 84 dba. Subsection (B) backs the numeric table with an equipment rule: every motor vehicle and motorcycle must run a muffler or other sound dissipative device in good working order and in constant operation, and removing or disabling a muffler, other than for repair or replacement, is itself a separate violation.
Subsection (C) bars sounding a horn or other signaling device except as otherwise authorized by law. m. Off-road recreational vehicles, including go-carts, snowmobiles, dune buggies and recreational aircraft, are separately capped at 94 dba for motorcycles and 88 dba for other vehicle types measured at 25 feet, under Subsection (E).
Violations & Fines
A violation is prosecuted under Sec. 17-259 and punished under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-13(A): up to a $500 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each trip or day of operation a separate offense. Removing a muffler, exceeding the dba table, or idling a heavy truck past the 30-minute limit near homes at night can each draw a citation, and Municipal Court fines are capped under RSMo 479.353 at $200 to $450 depending on prior offenses within twelve months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the noise limit for a car in Lee's Summit?
Is it illegal to remove my muffler in Lee's Summit?
Can a delivery truck idle outside my house overnight?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lee's Summit
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