Plymouth, MN Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Working muffler required at all times
- Banned devices
- Cutout, bypass mufflers, Jake/engine-retarder brakes
- Noise standard
- Ties to Minn. Stat. §§ 169.69, 169.693
- Exempt vehicle
- Fire trucks exempt from engine-brake ban
- Adopted
- Ord. 2003-05, February 25, 2003
Summary
Plymouth requires every motor vehicle to run a working muffler at all times and bans loud exhaust cutout or bypass devices and engine retarder brakes like Jake Brakes under City Code Section 1305.12, tying the local muffler rule to Minnesota's state vehicle-noise limits.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle which shall not at all times be equipped with a muffler upon the exhaust thereof in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise. For purposes of this section, excessive or unusual noise shall mean: 1) distinct and loudly audible noise that unreasonably annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort and repose of any person or precludes their enjoyment of property or affects their property's value, or; 2) noise in excess of that permitted by Minnesota Statutes, Section 169.69 as it may be amended from time to time, or; 3) noise in excess of that permitted by Minnesota Statutes, Section 169.693 and Minnesota Rules parts 7030.1000 through 7030.1050 as they may be amended from time to time. ... It shall be unlawful for any person operating any motor vehicle, other than a fire truck, to use a cutout, by-pass or similar muffler elimination device, or any transmission or engine retarding brake (commonly referred to or known as a Dynamic Brake, Jake Brake, Jacobs Brake, C-Brake, Paccar Brake), which either changes or uses the flow of exhaust or compressed air from the engine to reduce the speed of a motor vehicle.
Full Breakdown
12, Mufflers; Unnecessary Noise, makes it unlawful to operate a motor vehicle in Plymouth unless it is equipped at all times with a muffler on its exhaust that is in good working order and constant operation, specifically to prevent excessive or unusual noise. 1050. A second paragraph separately bans, for any vehicle other than a fire truck, the use of a cutout, by-pass or similar muffler-elimination device, or any transmission or engine-retarding brake, naming a Dynamic Brake, Jake Brake, Jacobs Brake, C-Brake or Paccar Brake as examples, when that device changes or uses the flow of exhaust or compressed air from the engine to slow the vehicle. The ordinance was adopted by Ord. '
Violations & Fines
Operating a vehicle without a functioning muffler, or with a cutout, bypass device or engine-retarder brake like a Jake Brake engaged on a public or private way, is a violation of Section 1305.12. Violations of Chapter XIII are generally petty misdemeanors under Section 1300.07 unless a specific provision or state statute sets a different penalty, so a muffler or engine-brake noise citation is typically charged and fined as a petty misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to have a loud exhaust in Plymouth?
Are Jake Brakes illegal in Plymouth?
How does Plymouth define excessive vehicle noise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth
Compare Plymouth to another location·View the Minnesota noise ordinances overview
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Vehicle Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hennepin County handle vehicle noise.