North Dakota Train Horn Laws 2026 — NDCC 39-21-36 Explained

Status

Legal

Vehicle Code

N.D.C.C. §39-21-36

Last reviewed: September 26, 2026

Disclaimer. This page summarizes publicly available North Dakota statutes as of September 2026. Not legal advice. Verify and consult a licensed ND attorney.

Quick facts

Legal status: Legal; Install permitted
Statute: §39-21-36; N.D.C.C. Title 39
Audibility required: 200 ft; Factory horn minimum
Specific dB cap: None; "Unreasonably loud" test
Siren ban: §39-21-36(2); Siren, whistle, bell
Penalty: $20 fee; Noncriminal, §39-06.1-06

Are train horns legal in North Dakota?

Installing an aftermarket train horn on a private vehicle in North Dakota is not prohibited. ND train horn law is in N.D.C.C. §39-21-36 — standard UVC pattern: 200-ft audibility, “unreasonably loud or harsh sound or whistle” ban, horn use limited to safe-operation cases. Subsection 2 of the same section separately bars equipping or using any siren, whistle, or bell on a vehicle (emergency vehicles excepted). A violation is a noncriminal traffic violation with a $20 statutory fee under N.D.C.C. §39-06.1-06.

Install is legal; use on ND public roads — Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, West Fargo — is the regulated behavior.

What N.D.C.C. §39-21-36 actually says

§ Statutory excerpt

While being operated upon a highway, every motor vehicle must be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than two hundred feet [60.96 meters], but no horn or other warning device may emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. Whenever reasonably necessary for safe operation, the driver of a motor vehicle upon a highway shall give audible warning with the vehicle’s horn, but may not otherwise use the vehicle’s horn while upon a highway. 2. No vehicle may be equipped with nor may any person use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle, or bell, except as otherwise permitted in this section.

— N.D.C.C. §39-21-36 — Horn and warning device North Dakota Legislative Branch · Century Code →

Standard UVC: 200-ft audibility, no unreasonably loud or harsh sound or whistle, use limited to safe operation. Subsection 2 bans sirens, whistles, and bells; subsection 3 allows theft alarms and subsection 4 covers authorized emergency vehicles.

Updated 2026-09-26: corrected two errors. First, the quote above now matches the official North Dakota Century Code text verbatim; earlier versions used older “shall be equipped / insure safe operation” phrasing. Second, earlier versions attributed the siren/whistle/bell ban to §39-21-37. That section actually covers mufflers; the ban is subsection 2 of §39-21-36. The page’s status (“legal” to install) is unchanged. Re-verified against the North Dakota Legislative Branch’s official chapter 39-21 text on 09/26/2026.

Does the factory horn need to stay working in ND?

Yes. §39-21-36 applies to the vehicle as a whole.

Is a train horn a “whistle” under NDCC?

How §39-21-36 reads warning devices

∿

Prohibited

Siren · whistle · bell

·Siren — variable-pitch tone
·Whistle — single-tone pressure device
·Bell — fire / warning bell
·§39-21-36(2): equip or use banned

♪

Train horn (chord)

Not enumerated

·Multi-note chord, not a whistle tone
·Install not banned
·Use subject to "unreasonably loud" test

Portable and battery-powered train horns in ND

§39-21-36 regulates “a horn or other warning device” — power source agnostic. M18, DeWalt 20V, Ryobi, Makita portables fall under the same rules.

Enforcement in practice

North Dakota is broadly permissive. Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks see more complaint-driven enforcement; rural counties rarely cite.

Scenario · What happens if you're stopped for a train horn in ND

Step

Initial contact

NDHP or local agency observes misuse / receives complaint

Install alone rarely triggers stops.

Step

Primary question

Did horn emit an 'unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle'? Is it a siren, whistle, or bell barred by §39-21-36(2)?

Standard tests.

Step

Factory horn check

Is OEM horn working at 200 ft?

Equipment violation if disconnected.

Step

Outcome

Noncriminal traffic violation, $20 statutory fee (§39-06.1-06)

Local ordinances and noise codes can carry separate penalties.

Practical ND train horn compliance

If you install a train horn in ND

6 steps

01

Keep factory horn wired and functional

200-ft rule applies to the vehicle.
02

Put the train horn on a separate switch

Distinct from OEM button.
03

Use factory horn for ordinary signaling

Safe-operation limit per §39-21-36.
04

Reserve use for off-road / farms / private property

ND has substantial agricultural and rural land.
05

Watch Fargo / Bismarck ordinances

Municipal noise codes apply.
06

Hearing protection when testing

140+ dB causes immediate damage.

How to verify this page

Verify on the North Dakota Legislative Branch Century Code portal. Send a correction if needed.

Screenshot of the official statute page at ndlegis.gov — North Dakota Legislative Branch — Title 39 (official portal) · ndlegis.gov captured April 22, 2026

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Minn. Stat. §169.68

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