Springfield, MA Noise Ordinances: Vehicle Noise (2026)

Springfield handles vehicle noise in separate parts of the City Code, and a driver can run into either one.

Car audio falls under § 259-4 of the Noise chapter. It is unlawful for any person to operate an amplification device so as to be plainly audible at 50 feet. The term is defined to include a car radio, stereo, tape or CD player, or speaker. Item A of the section is the vehicle provision. It covers a motor vehicle on a public or private way, or in a public place. That wording means the rule is not limited to city streets. A vehicle on a private way is covered, and so is a vehicle sitting in a public place with the stereo running.

The same section continues past vehicles. Item B covers a public way, a private way open to public use, or any other public place, and item C covers residential premises and the land of such premises. A car stereo played in a Springfield driveway is on the land of residential premises, so the 50 feet test still applies there.

Engine brakes are handled in Article X of Chapter 385. Section 385-50 states that "The use of engine brakes shall be prohibited throughout the City." The words "throughout the City" make the ban citywide instead of limiting it to posted streets. The provision was added by City Council order in 2010, with the date shown as 10-8-2010.

Both rules sit alongside the Noise chapter's general 100-foot "unreasonable noise" standard defined at § 259-1. The amplification rule is the tighter of the distance tests, since 50 feet is half the distance used in the general standard.