Sioux Falls, SD Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Light vehicle limit
- 80 dB(A) at 40 mph or less
- Heavy vehicle limit
- 90 dB(A) at 40 mph or less
- Measurement point
- 25 feet, 4 feet high
- Cutout/bypass mufflers
- Banned outright
- Max penalty
- $500 fine / 30 days jail
Summary
Sioux Falls caps vehicle noise at 80-90 dB(A) depending on weight and speed, and bans cutout or bypass mufflers citywide.
No person shall drive or move or cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles at any time in a manner as to exceed the following noise limits... No person shall operate or cause to be operated any motor vehicle within the city unless the exhaust system of the vehicle is: (1) Free from defects which affect sound reduction; (2) Equipped with a muffler or other noise dissipative device; and (3) Not equipped with any cutout, bypass or similar device.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-135: Current through local ordinance 54-26, passed 7-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 93.008 sets maximum sound pressure levels for moving motor vehicles, measured from 25 feet: heavy vehicles (GVWR/GCWR 10,000+ lbs) are capped at 90 dB(A) at 40 mph or under and 94 dB(A) above 40 mph; all other vehicles are capped at 80 dB(A) and 84 dB(A) respectively. Separately, every vehicle operated in the city must run an exhaust system free of defects affecting sound reduction, fitted with a working muffler or other noise-dissipative device, and free of any cutout, bypass, or similar device that lets exhaust bypass the muffler.
Violations & Fines
Violating the noise limits or running a cutout/bypass exhaust is a misdemeanor: up to a $500 fine, up to 30 days in the county jail, or both, under the city's general penalty clause (§ 10.999), with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a straight-pipe or cutout exhaust in Sioux Falls?
How loud can my car legally be in Sioux Falls?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sioux Falls
Compare Sioux Falls to another location·View the South Dakota noise ordinances overview
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