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

Status

Legal

Vehicle Code

N.D.C.C. §39-21-36

Last reviewed: April 22, 2026

Disclaimer. This page summarizes publicly available North Dakota statutes as of April 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: §39-21-37; $20 fine
Penalty: Traffic violation; Fine

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. Companion §39-21-37 separately bars unauthorized sirens, whistles, or bells ($20 fine violation).

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

Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall 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, but no horn or other warning device may emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. The driver of a motor vehicle shall, when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation, give audible warning with the horn, but shall not otherwise use the horn when upon a highway.

— 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 whistle, use limited to safe operation. Companion §39-21-37 handles sirens/whistles/bells.

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 and §39-21-37 read warning devices

∿

Prohibited

Siren · whistle · bell

·Siren — variable-pitch tone
·Whistle — single-tone pressure device
·Bell — fire / warning bell
·§39-21-37: $20 fine

♪

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 'unreasonably loud or whistle'? Is it a prohibited §39-21-37 device?

Standard tests.

Step

Factory horn check

Is OEM horn working at 200 ft?

Equipment violation if disconnected.

Step

Outcome

$20 fine for §39-21-37; larger fines for §39-21-36 violation

ND has low-value civil fines for horn offenses.

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.

Nearby states & related laws

All 50 states →

MN Legal

Minnesota

Minn. Stat. §169.68

Minnesota train horn law (Minn. Stat. §169.68): vehicle horn rules, Twin Cities enforcement, aftermarket horn regulations. Plain-English guide.

SD Legal

South Dakota

SDCL §32-15-10

South Dakota train horn law (SDCL §32-15-10): vehicle horn rules, Sioux Falls / Rapid City enforcement, aftermarket horn regulations. Plain-English guide.

MT Legal