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Exhaust Noise in South Dakota

Conditional

South Dakota sets no statewide decibel limit for passenger cars. A muffler in good working order is required, exhaust may not produce excessive or unusual noise, and cutouts or bypasses are prohibited.

Verified against primary sources · September 2026

What the law says

South Dakota law is qualitative rather than numeric: A muffler in good working order is required, exhaust may not produce excessive or unusual noise, and cutouts or bypasses are prohibited.

Specific Limits

Statewide decibel limit
none

Statute

SDCL § 32-15-17

Read the statute →

Frequently Asked Questions

Are exhaust noise legal in South Dakota?
South Dakota sets no statewide decibel limit for passenger cars. A muffler in good working order is required, exhaust may not produce excessive or unusual noise, and cutouts or bypasses are prohibited.
What are the exact exhaust noise limits in South Dakota?
Statewide decibel limit: none. Source: SDCL § 32-15-17.

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