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Boating Noise Limit Regulations By State
Last Updated February 2005
SAE J34: The most precise measurement
available, taken of a boat at a
distance of 50 ft. with wide-open throttle (the near maximum noise of
the boat).
Although great for engineering standards, it is difficult for
enforcement
purposes in the field. The Coast Guard recommends 86 decibels (dBA),
which most
states have adopted as law.
SAE J2005: This measures the engine sound at idle with the microphone
1.5 m
away. SAE recommends a limit of 90dbA for this method, which does not
account
for the speed or power of the boat.
SAE J1970: In realizing the enforcement difficulties of the previous
methods,
SAE designed this shoreline noise test enabling regulations keeping the
boat
under 75 dBA at 50 ft. by operation, not mechanics. The operator is
responsible
for controlling the noise of the boat.
Sound energy dissipates with distance, other sound and wind. A
comprehensive
study on sound with motorboats (but not including PWC) found that sound
dissipates up to 9.9dBA when the boat travels from 50 ft to 200 ft away
(4.8 dBA
reduction from 50 to 100 ft, additional 5.1 dBA reduction from 100 to
200 ft.).
Both the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
(NASBLA) and
the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) have Model Noise
Acts,
which our manufacturers follow as NMMA members. These requirements are
in
compliance with the SAE recommended dBA standards. NASBLA requires 88
dBA under
SAE J2005, and 75 dBA under SAE J1970. NMMA recommends 90 dBA under SAE
J2005.
The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that 75 dBA at 50
feet is an
acceptable noise level to protect public health and welfare.
| STATE | MAX DB LIMIT | MUFFLERS REQ'D | SWITCHABLE LEGAL | PENALTY/FINE |
| Alabama | 86 dB @ 50 Ft. | Yes | No | Misdemeanor/Minimum $50 |
| Outdoor Alabama District 1 Headquarters, 888-903-7659 | ||||
| Alaska | N/A | No | Yes | N/A |
| Alaska Office of Boating Safety, 907-269-8705 | ||||
| Arizona | 86 dB @ 50 Ft. | Yes | Yes | Petty offense/Minimum $55 |
| Arizona Game and Fish Department, 602-789-3235 | ||||
| Arkansas | Not Measured | Strongly Recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, 800-364-4263 | ||||
| California | 90 dB if mfg. prior to 1993, 88 dB if mfg. after 1993 | Yes | Not Specified | Infraction/Minimum $60, Maximum $250 |
| California Dept. of Boating and Waterways, 916-263-1331 | ||||
| Colorado | 86 dB @ 50 Ft. | Yes | Yes | Petty Offense/Minimum $50 |
| Colorado State Parks Administrative Office, 303-866-3437 | ||||
| Connecticut | 90 dB if mfg. before 1993, 88 if mfg. after 1993 | Yes | No | Violation/Minimum $100, Maximum $500 |
| Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection, Boating Division, 860-434-8638 | ||||
| Delaware | None | No | Yes | N/A |
| Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife Enforcement, 302-739-3486 | ||||
| Florida | 90 dB @ 50 Ft. | Yes | No | Not Specified |
| Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation, 850-488-5600 | ||||
| Georgia | None | Yes | No | N/A |
| Wildlife Resources Division, 912-685-2145 | ||||
| Hawaii | N/A | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| Division of Boating & Recreation, 808-587-1966 | ||||
| Idaho | 90 dB if mfg. before 1995, 88 dB if mfg. after 1995 measured using stationary test, 75 dB measured at 500 Ft. | Yes | No | Infraction/Maximum $100 |
| Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation, 208-334-4199 | ||||
| Illinois | 90 dB using stationary test or 75 dB moving | Yes | N/A | Misdemeanor/Minimum $1500 and/or 6 months in jail, Maximum $2500 and/or up to 1 year in jail |
| Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources, 217-782-6302 | ||||
| Indiana | N/A | Yes | No | Class C Infraction/Maximum $500 |
| Natural Resources Commission, 317-232-4699 | ||||
| Iowa | 86 dB @ 50 Ft. | Yes | No | Misdemeanor/Minimum $10, Maximum $100 |
| Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, 515-281-5918 | ||||
| Kansas | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, 620-672-5911 | ||||
| Kentucky | N/A | Yes | N/A | Minimum $50 |
| Kentucky Department of fish & Wildlife, 800-858-1549 | ||||
| Louisiana | N/A | Yes | No dry pipes | Violation/Minimum $50, Maximum $150 |
| Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries & boating, 225-765-2989 | ||||
| Maine | 90 dB using stationary test, 75 dB using offshore test | Yes | No | Misdemeanor/Maximum $1000 |
| Contact Not Specified | ||||
| Maryland | 90 dB | Yes | Not Specified | Misdemeanor/Maximum $500 |
| Natural Resources Police, Safety Education Division, 410-260-3280 | ||||
| Massachusetts | N/A | Yes | No | Misdemeanor/Maximum $100 |
| Boat & Recreation Bureau, 617-727-8760 | ||||
| Michigan | 90 dB measured at 3 Ft., and 75 dB measured onshore | Yes | N/A | Misdemeanor/Maximum $500 |
| Michigan DNR Law Enforcement Office, 517-373-1230 | ||||
| Minnesota | 86 dB using stationary test if mfg. before 1982, 84 dB using stationary test if mfg. after 1982, 84 dB measured at 50 feet while moving if mfg. before 1982, 82 dB measured at 50 feet while moving if mfg. after 1982 | Yes | No | Not Specified |
| Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources, 651-296-6157 | ||||
| Mississippi | 86 dB measured at 50 feet | Yes | Not Specified | Misdemeanor/Minimum $50, Maximum $100 |
| Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks | ||||
| Missouri | 90 dB if mfg. after 1996 using stationary test or 86 dB when measured at 50 feet | Yes | Not Specified | Not specified |
| Missouri State Water Patrol, 573-751-3333 | ||||
| Montana | 90 dB measured at 1 meter from mufflers at idle or 86 dB measured at 50 feet at speed, in flathead and Lake Counties the limit is 75 dB when measured from the shoreline | Yes | N/A | Misdemeanor/Maximum $500 |
| Montana fish, Wildlife and Parks, 406-444-2452 | ||||
| Nebraska | N/A | Yes | N/A | N/a |
| Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 402-471-0641 | ||||
| Nevada | 86 dB measured at 50 feet as defined by the SAE J-34 test or 90 dB using a stationary test as defined by SAE J-2005 test for boats mfg. before 1993, or 88 dB for boats mfg. after 1993 | Yes | No | Misdemeanor/Maximum $100 and/or 6 months in jail |
| Nevada Division of Wildlife, 775-688-1500 | ||||
| New Hampshire | 86 dB measured at 50 feet for any boat mfg. before 1978, 84 dB for boats mfg. between 1978 and 1981, 82 dB for any boat mfg. after 1981 | Yes | No | Violation/Minimum $100 |
| New Hampshire Dept. of Safety, 800-735-2964 | ||||
| New Jersey | 90 dB measured at idle | Yes | No | Boating Offense/Minimum $100, Maximum $500 |
| New Jersey State Police Marine Services Unit, 609-882-2000 ext. 6170,6173, or 6181 | ||||
| New Mexico | N/A | Yes | N/A | Misdemeanor/Maximum $500 |
| New Mexico State Parks, 888-667-2757 | ||||
| New York | 90 dB using J-2005 stationary test, 75 dB using shoreline test | Yes | No | Misdemeanor/Maximum $50 |
| New York State Parks, 518-474-0456 | ||||
| North Carolina | N/A | Yes on all boats capable of operating at more than 4,000 rpm and with open air exhaust systems | N/A | N/A |
| North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Enforcement Division, 919-662-4381 | ||||
| North Dakota | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| No contact specified | ||||
| Ohio | 90 dB as measured using J-2005 test, and 75 db as measured using J-1970 test | Yes | No | Not specified |
| Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Division of Watercraft, 614-265-6480 | ||||
| Oklahoma | 90 dB using J-2005 test, 75 dB using J-1970 test | Yes | No | N/A |
| Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Lake Patrol Troop W, 918-847-2001 | ||||
| Oregon | N/A | Yes | Not specified | Class B Violation/Minimum $237 |
| Oregon State Marine Board, 503-378-8587 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | N/A | Yes | No | N/A |
| Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 717-705-7800 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management, Law Enforcement, 401-222-2284 | ||||
| South Carolina | N/A | Yes | N/A | Misdemeanor/Minimum $50, Maximum $200 |
| South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources, 800-922-5431 | ||||
| South Dakota | N/A | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, 605-773-3391 | ||||
| Tennessee | 86 dB measured 50 feet from boat | Yes | No | Misdemeanor/Maximum $250 |
| Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, 615-781-6682 | ||||
| Texas | N/A | Yes | N/A | Misdemeanor/Minimum $25, Maximum $500 |
| Texas Parks and Wildlife, 800-262-8755 | ||||
| Utah | 90 dB as measured by J-2005 for boats mfg. before 1993 and 88 dB for boats mfg. after 1993, 75 dB for all boats as measured by J-1970 | Yes | No | Misdemeanor/Maximum $1,000 |
| Utah Dept. of Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, 801-538-7220 | ||||
| Vermont | 82 dB measured at 50 feet | Yes | No | Violation/Maximum $300 |
| Vermont State Police, Marine Division, 802-878-7111 | ||||
| Virginia | N/A | Yes | No | Misdemeanor/Maximum $200 |
| Virginia Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries, Law Enforcement, 804-367-1258 | ||||
| Washington | 90 dB for boats mfg. before 1993 adn 88 dB for boats mfg. after 1993 measured using J-2005 stationary test, 75 dB for all boats measured using J-1970 shoreline test | Yes | No | Infraction/Minimum $75 |
| Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission, 360-586-6592 | ||||
| Washington D.C. | N/A | Yes | Yes | Violation/Maximum $50 |
| Metropolitan Police Dept., Harbor Patrol, 202-727-4582 | ||||
| West Virginia | N/A | Yes | Yes | Misdemeanor/Maximum $300 |
| West Virginia Dept. of Natural Resources, 304-558-3380 | ||||
| Wisconsin | 86 dB measured at 50 feet | Yes | No | N/A |
| Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division, 608-266-2141 | ||||
| Wyoming | N/A | Yes | No | N/A |
| Wyoming Game & Fish, 307-777-4600 | ||||