Lee's Summit, MO Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

Section 17-257 of the Lee's Summit Code of Ordinances, part of the Noise Control Ordinance in Chapter 17, Article IX, sets five separate vehicle rules. Subsection A applies on any public right-of-way at any time of day. Sound is measured at 25 feet (7.5 meters) from the vehicle, and the limit depends on vehicle class and posted speed. Motor vehicles with a GVWR or GCWR of 10,000 pounds or more are held to 92 dBA on streets with a 35 MPH limit or less, 96 dBA above 35 MPH, and 94 dBA in a stationary run-up. Any motorcycle is held to 90, 94 and 90 dBA in those same three conditions. Any other motor vehicle, or any combination of vehicles towed by one, is held to 84, 88 and 84 dBA.

Subsection B covers equipment. B.1 bars operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle without a muffler or other sound dissipative device in good working order and in constant operation. B.2 bars removing or disabling a muffler, or causing that to be done, except for maintenance, repair or replacement. Section 17-252 defines a muffler or sound dissipative device as a device for abating the sound of escaping gases of an internal combustion engine.

Subsection C bars sounding a horn or other auditory signaling device on or in any motor vehicle on a public right-of-way or public space, except as otherwise authorized by law.

Subsection D is the idling rule. No one may operate or permit the operation of a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds, or any auxiliary equipment attached to it, for longer than 30 minutes in any hour while stationary, other than for traffic congestion. It covers public right-of-way or public space within 150 feet (46 meters) of a residential area or designated noise sensitive zone, from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next day. The table in Subsection A uses 10,000 pounds or more, while Subsection D says in excess of 10,000 pounds, so a vehicle at exactly 10,000 pounds is a heavy vehicle for sound limits but outside the idling rule.

Subsection E sets separate limits for recreational motorized vehicles operated off a public right-of-way, including racing vehicles, go-carts, snowmobiles, dune buggies and campers, but not motorboats: 94 dBA for a motorcycle and 88 dBA for any other vehicle, measured at 25 feet from the path of the vehicle or at the boundary of private property.

The Police Department administers the article through a Noise Control Officer appointed by the Chief of Police. Section 17-254 separately prohibits repairing, rebuilding, modifying or testing a motor vehicle, motorcycle or motorboat in a way that causes a noise disturbance across a residential property boundary or within a noise sensitive zone. Activities required by city public services are exempt under Section 17-260.