San Bernardino, CA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- SBMC Ch. 8.54, Noise Control
- Modified exhaust rule
- § 8.54.020(C), residential zones
- Stereo daytime limit
- Plainly audible at 50 ft, 8am-10pm
- Stereo nighttime limit
- Plainly audible at 25 ft, 10pm-8am
- Repeat violation
- Equipment seizure within 72 hrs
- Reclaim window
- 7 calendar days, written request
Summary
San Bernardino bans modified mufflers that boost a vehicle's noise above factory levels in residential zones and outlaws car stereos plainly audible 50 feet away in daytime or 25 feet at night. Police can issue a written notice and, on a repeat within 72 hours, seize the amplifying equipment.
Operating or permitting the use of any motor vehicle on any public right-of-way or public place or on private property within a residential zone for which the exhaust muffler, intake muffler or any other noise abatement device has been modified or changed in a manner such that the noise emitted by the motor vehicle is increased above that emitted by the vehicle as originally manufactured... Plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet in any direction from the source of the music or sound between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.; or... Plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet in any direction from the source of the music or sound 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: 2026 S-2: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. MC-1666, passed 8-5-2026).
Full Breakdown
m. 010). 030: an officer who finds a violation issues a written notice demanding immediate abatement, and a second violation by the same responsible person within 72 hours lets the officer confiscate and impound the offending stereo components, including the vehicle itself if removal would damage it. Impounded items can be reclaimed by filing a written request with the Police Department within seven calendar days. 020(B), except when done for repair or testing.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of the noise chapter is an infraction punishable under § 1.12.010: up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for a third, with a fourth becoming a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in county jail and a $1,000 fine. A second stereo/muffler violation within 72 hours of the written notice also triggers confiscation of the amplifying equipment under § 8.54.030(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can San Bernardino police confiscate my car stereo?
How loud can I run my exhaust in San Bernardino?
What are the stereo audibility limits at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino to another location·View the California noise ordinances overview
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Vehicle Noise in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle vehicle noise.