Spring Hill, TN Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

The vehicle provisions of Spring Hill's noise section are three of the acts § 11-402(A) declares loud, disturbing and unnecessary. Horns come first: sounding any horn or signaling device on any automobile, motorcycle, truck or other vehicle on any street or public place of the city is barred except as a danger warning, and so is creating any unreasonably loud or harsh sound with the device or sounding it for an unnecessary and unreasonable period. The code also bars any signaling device other than one operated by hand or electricity, any horn, whistle or other device operated by engine exhaust, and use of a signaling device when traffic is held up.

Exhausts are item (7): discharging the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine, motor boat or other vehicle into the open air is barred except through a muffler or other device that effectively prevents loud or explosive noises. Item (8) targets a vehicle in disrepair or a poorly loaded one: any automobile, motorcycle or vehicle so out of repair, so loaded or used in such manner as to create loud and unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling or other noise.

The traffic title adds its own rule. Section 15-118 makes it unlawful to cause unnecessary noise by unnecessarily sounding the horn, racing the motor or causing the screeching or squealing of the tires on any motor vehicle.

The decibel table in § 11-402(C)(2) does not govern vehicles: it applies to sound projected between properties excluding noise emanating from cars, trucks or motorcycles. Vehicle noise is judged under the subsection (A) standards and the subsection (B) factors, which include volume, intensity, time of day or night and duration.