---
title: Muffling Device in California
description: "Excessive noise levels measured at a distance of 50 ft from the motorboat are described as more than: 90 decibels for engines manufactured before Jan 1, 93"
image: https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/courses/usa2024/images/images-transparentes/muffler-boat.png
---

### Is an exhaust muffler required on a boat in California? 

While operating your powerboat on California inland and coastal waters up to one mile from shore, it must be equipped with a muffler. Otherwise, you must have a means to prevent it from exceeding the noise levels listed below when they are measured by the Stationary Sound Level Measurement.

![Muffling Device Regulations in California](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/usa2022/images/images-transparentes/muffler-boat.png?width=1100&height=1003&name=muffler-boat.png)

### What is the maximum decibel level allowed in California?

Excessive noise levels measured **at a distance of 50 feet from the motorboat** are described as more than:

- 90 decibels for engines manufactured before Jan 1, 1993.
- 88 decibels for engines manufactured on or after Jan 1, 1993.

Noise levels measured **from the ****Shoreline** Sound Level Measurement Test should not exceed: 

- 75 decibels.

- [** Follow Ace Boater on YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJABNcQHyTGe3ta_lZJ4exw)
- [** Join Ace Boater on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/AceBoater)
- [** Contacts Us ](https://aceboater.com/usa/en/contact)

[![Ace Boater - Boating license and exam online](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/aceboater/brand/ace-boater.svg)](https://aceboater.com/en-us)

#### Boating safety course and boating exam accredited in USA

[↑](https://aceboater.com/en-us/muffling-device-california#top)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "WebPage",
  "breadcrumb" : {
    "@type" : "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement" : [ {
      "@type" : "ListItem",
      "item" : {
        "@id" : "/en-us",
        "@type" : "WebPage",
        "name" : "Home"
      },
      "position" : 1
    }, {
      "@type" : "ListItem",
      "item" : {
        "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/en-us/california",
        "@type" : "WebPage",
        "name" : "California Boating License"
      },
      "position" : 2
    }, {
      "@type" : "ListItem",
      "item" : {
        "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/en-us/california-boating-laws",
        "@type" : "WebPage",
        "name" : "California boating laws and regulations"
      },
      "position" : 3
    }, {
      "@type" : "ListItem",
      "item" : {
        "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/en-us/muffling-device-california",
        "@type" : "WebPage",
        "name" : "Muffling Device in California"
      },
      "position" : 4
    } ]
  },
  "dateModified" : "2024-02-21T15:44:12.986-0500",
  "datePublished" : "2022-04-07T15:28:42.000-0400",
  "description" : "Excessive noise levels measured at a distance of 50 ft from the motorboat are described as more than: 90 decibels for engines manufactured before Jan 1, 93",
  "headline" : "Muffling Device in California",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "url" : "https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/courses/usa2024/images/images-transparentes/muffler-boat.png"
  },
  "lastReviewed" : "2024-02-21T15:44:12.986-0500",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/aceboater/brand/ace-boater.svg"
    },
    "name" : "E.S.N.N.A. Inc."
  },
  "url" : "https://aceboater.com/en-us/muffling-device-california"
}
```