Paterson, NJ Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Night audibility limit
- 25 feet, 10pm-8am
- Day audibility limit
- 50 feet, 8am-10pm
- Muffler tampering
- Banned except for repair
- Motorcycles
- Must meet 40 CFR Part 205
Summary
Paterson bans disabling a vehicle's factory noise-control equipment and caps vehicular music amplification at 25 feet audible overnight, 50 feet by day, under Chapter 337.
No person shall remove or render inoperative, or cause to be removed or rendered inoperative or less effective than originally equipped, other than for the purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement, any device or element of design incorporated in any motor vehicle for the purpose of noise control. No person shall operate a motor vehicle or motorcycle which has been so modified. A vehicle not meeting these requirements shall be deemed in violation of this provision if it is operated stationary or in motion in any public space or public right-of-way.
B. No motorcycle shall be operated stationary or in motion unless it has a muffler that complies with and is labeled in accordance with the federal noise regulations under 40 CFR Part 205.
C. Personal or commercial vehicular music amplification or reproduction equipment shall not be operated in such a manner that it is plainly audible at distance of 25 feet in any direction from the operator between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
D. Personal or commercial vehicular music amplification or reproduction equipment shall not be operated in such a manner that is plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet in any direction from the operator between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
E. No personal device shall be used or operated in such a manner that it is plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet in any direction from the user/operator between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4713536; v19 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 337-11 bars removing or disabling any noise-control device on a motor vehicle or motorcycle other than for maintenance, repair or replacement, and requires motorcycles to run a federally compliant muffler under 40 CFR Part 205. The same section limits personal or commercial vehicular music amplification equipment: it can't be plainly audible more than 25 feet from the vehicle between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., or more than 50 feet between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. The City Council's January 2023 amendment made every subsection independently enforceable and non-minor.
Violations & Fines
Enforced as separate, non-minor violations per subsection; a disabled muffler or an over-limit stereo can each draw its own notice of penalty assessment and fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove my car's muffler in Paterson?
How loud can my car stereo be at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Paterson
Compare Paterson to another location·View the New Jersey noise ordinances overview
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