Nevada County has no county-specific vehicle noise ordinance; General Plan Policy 9.1.15 commits the county to addressing automobile, truck, motorcycle, and off-road vehicle noise by requesting Sheriff and CHP enforcement of the California Vehicle Code, including the muffler requirements of CVC Sec. 27150.
The Nevada County General Plan Noise Element addresses mobile noise sources through state law rather than local regulation. Policy 9.1.15 directs the county to minimize noise from automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and off-road vehicles by continuing to request enforcement of the California Vehicle Code's exhaust system provisions by the County Sheriff and the California Highway Patrol. Under Vehicle Code Sec. 27150(a), every motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine must be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent excessive or unusual noise, with no cutout, bypass, or similar device. Companion provisions cap vehicle noise (CVC Secs. 27200-27207, including a 95 dBA limit for modified passenger car exhaust under Sec. 27151) and Sec. 38275 applies muffler rules to off-highway vehicles. Off-road vehicle noise reaching neighboring homes from private property can also be evaluated under the county's exterior noise limits in Code Sec. 12.04.070.
Loud or modified exhaust violations are cited by the Sheriff or CHP under the Vehicle Code, typically as correctable equipment violations ('fix-it tickets') with fines; exhaust systems exceeding state noise limits can draw non-correctable citations.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Nevada County, CA
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See how Nevada County's vehicle noise rules stack up against other locations.
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