Royal Oak, MI Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

Royal Oak's disorderly conduct chapter treats loud vehicle sound systems and worn-out mufflers as two distinct civil infractions rather than folding them into the general misdemeanor disorderly conduct offense. Subsection § 278-35(P), added by Ordinance No. 2016-09 on July 25, 2016, makes it unlawful for anyone in possession or control of a parked or moving vehicle to run a stereo, disc player, cassette player, speakers or similar equipment at a level, volume, intensity, frequency or other attribute perceptible at 50 feet or more, whether heard by ear or felt as vibration, on a street, driveway, publicly patrolled parking lot or public place.

The subsection exempts sound from emergency vehicles, vending vehicles, and publicly sponsored or permitted concerts, sporting events, activities or gatherings, so a permitted downtown festival speaker system is not a violation. Subsection § 278-35(Q), added the same day, separately targets vehicles so out of repair, overloaded or improperly constructed that they generate loud, unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling noise or exhaust noise plainly audible at 50 feet and unreasonably disturbing to others' quiet, comfort or repose. Both subsections carry the identical $100 civil infraction fine, which the Royal Oak Police Department issues in the field rather than referring the matter to district court as a misdemeanor.

Because they sit inside § 278-35, Disorderly Conduct, alongside offenses like public urination and unlawful assembly, officers responding to a car-stereo or loud-exhaust complaint cite these specific subsections rather than the catch-all disorderly conduct clause that carries the chapter's harsher $500 and 90-day general penalty.