Shelby, MI Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

Chapter 296's specific noise prohibitions in § 296-3 include two provisions aimed squarely at vehicles. Subsection D, exhaust noises, bars discharging into the open air the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine, or any other engine, whether in a boat, motor vehicle, motorcycle, off-road vehicle or tractor, except through a muffler or other device that effectively prevents or reduces loud or explosive noises. It goes further than a simple muffler requirement: modifying any noise abatement device on a motor vehicle or engine so the sound is increased above what the vehicle emitted as originally manufactured is declared prima facie evidence of a violation, meaning the village does not need to separately measure decibels once a modification is shown.

Subsection N addresses vehicles in poor mechanical condition, covering any automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle so out of repair, or so loaded or constructed, as to cause loud and unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling, or other unreasonable noise, including exhaust noise, that is clearly audible from nearby properties and unreasonably disturbing to others' quiet, comfort or repose. 1 et seq. Subsection L extends the chapter to vehicle-mounted loudspeakers used for advertising that emit loud, raucous noise easily heard from nearby residential property. Together these subsections give the village three separate, specific hooks against loud vehicles: illegal exhaust modification, general disrepair noise, and mounted sound equipment.