Milwaukee County, WI Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Wis. Stat. 347.39 (mufflers)
- County street ordinance
- None (state + municipal)
- Parkway enforcement
- County Sheriff's Office
- Modified exhaust
- Prohibited statewide
Summary
Milwaukee County does not set its own vehicle-noise ordinance for streets. Loud vehicles are governed by Wisconsin's statewide muffler statute, Wis. Stat. sec. 347.39, plus each municipality's local noise code. County parkway roads follow state motor-vehicle law and county park rules.
No person shall operate on a highway any motor vehicle subject to registration unless such motor vehicle is equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise or annoying smoke.
Full Breakdown
Vehicle and exhaust noise on roads in Milwaukee County is controlled primarily by Wisconsin state law rather than a county ordinance. Wis. Stat. sec. 347.39(1) requires every registered motor vehicle on a highway to have an adequate muffler in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and the statute bars cutouts, bypasses, and exhaust modifications that amplify engine noise above the original muffler. This rule is enforced by municipal police and, on county parkways, by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office. Municipalities may layer local provisions on car stereos or engine braking, but the COUNTY itself does not publish a general street vehicle-noise ordinance. Inside county parks, motor-vehicle use and sound devices are also subject to Code Chapter 47.
Violations & Fines
A loud-muffler or modified-exhaust stop is written under Wis. Stat. sec. 347.39 as a state traffic forfeiture, issued by municipal police or the County Sheriff on parkways. Municipalities may add local citations. No separate countywide ordinance exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a loud exhaust illegal in Milwaukee County?
Does the county have its own car-noise ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Milwaukee County
Compare Milwaukee County to another location·View the Wisconsin noise ordinances overview
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