Pasco, WA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Stereo audibility limit
- audible beyond 75 feet from vehicle
- Muffler requirement
- exhaust must pass through a muffler
- Governing section
- PMC 9.130.030(3)(d),(e),(k),(l)
- Max fine, first offense
- $250 civil penalty
- Repeat offense fine
- $250 to $500 within 2 years
Summary
Pasco bans car stereo sound audible more than 75 feet from the vehicle and exhaust noise from any engine lacking a muffler. Curbside speaker or radio broadcasts on public streets are also flagged as public disturbance noise.
(d) Any sound made by the discharge of exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine except through a muffler. ... (k) Any sound made by speaker sound amplifier or motor vehicle audio system exterior to the passenger sitting compartment of a motor vehicle on a public street or highway (anywhere within the right-of-way thereof) of a commercial radio station broadcast, or music from an audio tape cassette, compact disc, or other recording medium. (l) Any sound from a motor vehicle audio system such as tape players, radios, and compact disc players, operated at a volume and under conditions so as to be audible greater than 75 feet from the vehicle itself.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4837, passed May 4, 2026).
Full Breakdown
030(3) lists specific vehicle-related sounds as "public disturbance noise" subject to citywide regulation. Subsection (d) prohibits any sound from the discharge of exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine except through a muffler. Subsection (e) extends muffler standards to motorcycles, motorbikes, and off-road or terrain vehicles operated on property outside the City's street system, matching the muffler requirements that apply on public streets. Subsection (k) targets speaker sound amplifiers or motor vehicle audio systems exterior to the passenger compartment playing commercial radio broadcasts or recorded music on a public street or highway.
Subsection (l) sets the core stereo-volume standard: any sound from a motor vehicle audio system, including tape players, radios, and CD players, operated at a volume audible more than 75 feet from the vehicle itself is a public disturbance noise regardless of time of day. 380. qualifier. 030 categories do; police or the Code Enforcement Officer can act directly.
Violations & Fines
A violation is a civil infraction under PMC 9.130.090, carrying a civil penalty up to $250 per violation, with each day of continuing violation treated as a separate offense. A second violation within a two-year period triggers an enhanced penalty of between $250 and $500. Incarceration is not authorized; the fine is the exclusive penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can my car stereo legally be in Pasco?
Is a loud exhaust illegal in Pasco?
What is the fine for a noisy vehicle stereo in Pasco?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasco
Compare Pasco to another location·View the Washington noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.