Marathon County, WI Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- ATV/UTV on designated routes/trails only
- Requirement
- Working muffler, in constant use
- First violation
- $50 cash deposit + costs
- Repeat within 12 months
- $150 cash deposit + costs
- Enforced by
- Sheriff's Office & Parks/Forestry Dept.
Summary
On Marathon County's designated ATV/UTV routes and trails, every all-terrain and utility-terrain vehicle must run a muffler or noise-suppressing system in good working order at all times -- the rule targets excessive exhaust noise, not car stereos or engine brakes.
(vii)Every ATV or UTV shall be equipped, maintained, and operated to prevent excessive or unusual noise. No person shall operate an ATV or UTV on an ATV/UTV Route unless the vehicle is equipped with a muffler or other effective noise-suppressing system in good working order and in constant operation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
Section 7.125 governs ATVs and UTVs on highway segments and trails the county has designated open to that use. Subsection (6)(c)(vii) requires every ATV/UTV to be equipped, maintained and operated to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and bars operation on a designated route without a working muffler or other noise-suppressing system in constant use. The rule is scoped to off-road ATV/UTV traffic on county-designated routes and trails -- Marathon County has no separate ordinance addressing car stereos, motorcycle exhaust or engine-brake noise on ordinary roads, which fall under state law adopted by reference in § 7.01.
Violations & Fines
A first violation without its own statutory penalty draws a $50 cash deposit plus court costs; a second violation within 12 months rises to $150 plus costs, under § 7.125(6)(f).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Marathon County's ATV noise rule cover my truck's exhaust?
What's the fine for a loud ATV on a county trail?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marathon County
Compare Marathon County to another location·View the Wisconsin noise ordinances overview
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