Montebello, CA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 9.08.050(A),(G),(M)
- Horn rule
- No longer/louder than needed to warn of danger
- Defective vehicle rule
- Out-of-repair or overloaded vehicle noise banned
- Muffler requirement
- Engine noise must be muffled/deadened
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor or infraction, prosecutor's discretion
- Repeat-call fee
- Service fee after repeated 24-hour calls
Summary
In the City of Montebello, Municipal Code Section 9.08.050 lists specific vehicle noises as prohibited loud or raucous noise, including horns sounded longer than needed to warn of danger, motor vehicles so out of repair or overloaded that they disturb a reasonable person, and engines lacking an adequate muffler. Violations are misdemeanors or infractions under Section 9.08.060.
A.Horns, Signaling Devices, Etc. The sounding of any horn or similar audible device on any vehicle on any street or public place of the city which is louder or longer than is reasonably needed to warn of a danger, or the use of any horn, whistle, or other similar audible device for an unreasonable period of time; ... G.Defect in Vehicle or Load. The use of any motor vehicle so out of repair, so loaded, or in such a manner as to disturb the peace and quiet of a reasonable person; ... M.Blowers. The operation of any noise-creating blower, power fan or internal combustion engine in which the power is produced by the explosion of a fuel and air mixture within the cylinder(s) shall be prohibited unless the noise from such blower or fan is muffled and such engine is equipped with a muffler device sufficient to deaden such noise.
Full Breakdown
Section 9.08.050 declares a non-exclusive list of acts to be loud or raucous noise within Chapter 9.08, Offenses Against Public Peace. Three subsections target vehicle noise directly. Subsection A bars sounding any horn or similar audible device on a street or public place louder or longer than reasonably needed to warn of danger, or using a horn, whistle or similar device for an unreasonable period. Subsection G bars operating any motor vehicle so out of repair, so overloaded, or otherwise operated in a manner that disturbs the peace and quiet of a reasonable person, which reaches a car with a damaged or removed muffler or a rattling load.
Subsection M separately prohibits any noise-creating blower, power fan or internal combustion engine unless the noise is muffled and the engine carries a muffler device sufficient to deaden the sound, a standard that applies to vehicle engines as much as stationary equipment. Section 9.08.030 defines the vehicles this chapter reaches broadly: mini-bikes, go-carts, automobiles, trucks and any self-propelled vehicle registered or identified under the California Vehicle Code, on-highway or off-highway. Section 9.08.060 sets the penalty: any violation of Title 9's noise provisions is a misdemeanor or an infraction at the prosecuting authority's discretion, each separate violation is a separate offense, and repeated noise-disturbance calls to the same location within 24 hours trigger a service fee for personnel and equipment costs set by council resolution. A chronic violation may also be abated as a public nuisance under Chapter 8.16.
Violations & Fines
Violating any part of Section 9.08.050, including the horn, defective-vehicle and unmuffled-engine clauses, is a misdemeanor or an infraction at the prosecuting authority's discretion under Section 9.08.060(A). Each violation is a separate offense, and repeated calls to the same address within 24 hours add a service fee for police personnel and equipment under Section 9.08.060(B); chronic violations may be abated as a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a loud car exhaust illegal in Montebello?
Can I be cited for honking my horn too long in Montebello?
What is the penalty for a vehicle noise violation in Montebello?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montebello
California rules heatmap·Compare Montebello to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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