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Montgomery, AL Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Audibility threshold
Plainly audible at 25 feet from the vehicle
Covers
Radios, stereos, musical instruments, pedestrian devices
No permit option
Sec. 18-174 permits cannot authorize this act
Penalty
Up to $500 fine per day
Related rule
Same 25-ft test for home/business sound (Sec. 18-175(c))

Summary

Playing a car stereo, radio or musical device loud enough to be heard 25 feet away is a declared nuisance and a citable offense in Montgomery, whether the sound comes from a vehicle or a pedestrian's device. The same 25-foot audibility test applies to home and business sound systems too.

(b)It is hereby declared a nuisance and shall be unlawful to operate or play any radio, stereo system, musical instrument or similar device which produces or reproduces sounds, whether from a motor vehicle or by a pedestrian, in such a manner as to be plainly audible to any person other than the player or operator of the device at a distance of 25 feet in the case of a motor vehicle or 25 feet in the case of a pedestrian.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27).

Full Breakdown

Sec. " A companion rule, Sec. 18-175(c), applies the same 25-foot audibility standard to sound systems operated from a business or residence, reaching devices plainly audible inside a commercial, residential, multifamily or public place at that distance. Audibility is judged the way Sec. 18-174(a)(2) defines it for the whole noise division: by the auditory senses, without needing to make out specific words, and counting bass reverberations. Unlike the general nuisance-noise permit in Sec. 18-174, which lets someone apply to the chief of police for advance authorization, subsections (b) and (c) of Sec.

18-175 are absolute prohibitions: "no permit required by the provisions of this division shall be issued for any act prohibited by this section," so a loud car stereo cannot be permitted in advance.

Violations & Fines

Sec. 18-172 sets the penalty for a Sec. 18-175(b) vehicle-stereo violation at a fine up to $500.00, with each day the violation continues a separate offense; because subsection (b) is a flat prohibition, obtaining a noise permit is not a defense.

Frequently Asked Questions

How loud can my car stereo legally be in Montgomery?
If it's plainly audible to someone else standing 25 feet from the vehicle, it violates Sec. 18-175(b), which declares that level of vehicle stereo, radio or musical-device noise a nuisance and unlawful, regardless of the time of day. The same 25-foot test applies whether the sound comes from a car or a pedestrian's portable speaker.
Can I get a permit to play loud music from my car?
No. Sec. 18-175 states that no noise permit issued under the division can authorize an act the section prohibits, and vehicle-stereo noise audible at 25 feet is one of those flatly prohibited acts, so there's no permit path around it.
What's the fine for a loud car stereo violation in Montgomery?
Sec. 18-172 caps the fine at $500.00 per offense, and treats each day a violation continues as a separate offense, so repeat citations for the same ongoing noise can add up quickly. Police issue citations on the spot when the 25-foot audibility standard is met.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Montgomery

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsQuiet HoursSome RestrictionsConstruction HoursSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsLeaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsAmplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsBarking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSignificant Restrictions

All Montgomery rules

Compare Montgomery to another location·View the Alabama noise ordinances overview

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