Fla. Stat. 327.65
Muffling devices


(1)

The exhaust of every internal combustion engine used on any vessel operated on the waters of this state shall be effectively muffled by equipment so constructed and used as to muffle the noise of the exhaust in a reasonable manner. The use of cutouts is prohibited, except for vessels competing in a regatta or official boat race, and for such vessels while on trial runs.

(2)(a)

Any county wishing to impose additional noise pollution and exhaust regulations on vessels may, pursuant to s. 327.60(2), adopt by county ordinance the following regulations:
No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any vessel on the waters of any county or on a specified portion of the waters of any county, including the Florida Intracoastal Waterway, which has adopted the provisions of this section in such a manner as to exceed the following sound levels at a distance of 50 feet from the vessel: for all vessels, a maximum sound level of 90 dB A.
Any person who refuses to submit to a sound level test when requested to do so by a law enforcement officer is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
The following words and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in this subsection.
“dB A” means the composite abbreviation for the A-weighted sound level and the unit of sound level, the decibel.
“Sound level” means the A-weighted sound pressure level measured with fast response using an instrument complying with the specification for sound level meters of the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or its successor bodies, except that only a weighting and fast dynamic response need be provided.

(2)(a)

Any county wishing to impose additional noise pollution and exhaust regulations on vessels may, pursuant to s. 327.60(2), adopt by county ordinance the following regulations:No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any vessel on the waters of any county or on a specified portion of the waters of any county, including the Florida Intracoastal Waterway, which has adopted the provisions of this section in such a manner as to exceed the following sound levels at a distance of 50 feet from the vessel: for all vessels, a maximum sound level of 90 dB A.Any person who refuses to submit to a sound level test when requested to do so by a law enforcement officer is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
1. No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any vessel on the waters of any county or on a specified portion of the waters of any county, including the Florida Intracoastal Waterway, which has adopted the provisions of this section in such a manner as to exceed the following sound levels at a distance of 50 feet from the vessel: for all vessels, a maximum sound level of 90 dB A.
2. Any person who refuses to submit to a sound level test when requested to do so by a law enforcement officer is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(b)

The following words and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in this subsection.“dB A” means the composite abbreviation for the A-weighted sound level and the unit of sound level, the decibel.“Sound level” means the A-weighted sound pressure level measured with fast response using an instrument complying with the specification for sound level meters of the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or its successor bodies, except that only a weighting and fast dynamic response need be provided.
1. “dB A” means the composite abbreviation for the A-weighted sound level and the unit of sound level, the decibel.
2. “Sound level” means the A-weighted sound pressure level measured with fast response using an instrument complying with the specification for sound level meters of the American National Standards Institute, Inc., or its successor bodies, except that only a weighting and fast dynamic response need be provided.

Source: Section 327.65 — Muffling devices, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0327.­65 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

327.01
Short title
327.02
Definitions
327.04
Rules
327.30
Collisions, accidents, and casualties
327.31
Transmittal of information
327.32
Vessel declared dangerous instrumentality
327.33
Reckless or careless operation of vessel
327.34
Incapacity of operator
327.35
Boating under the influence
327.36
Mandatory adjudication
327.37
Water skis, parasails, aquaplanes, kiteboarding, kitesurfing, and moored ballooning regulated
327.38
Skiing prohibited while intoxicated or under influence of drugs
327.39
Personal watercraft regulated
327.40
Uniform waterway markers
327.41
Uniform waterway regulatory markers
327.42
Mooring to or damaging of uniform waterway markers prohibited
327.43
Silver Glen Run and Silver Glen Springs
327.44
Interference with navigation
327.45
Protection zones for springs
327.46
Boating-restricted areas
327.47
Competitive grant programs
327.48
Regattas, races, marine parades, tournaments, or exhibitions
327.49
Testing vessels and vessel motors
327.50
Vessel safety regulations
327.52
Maximum loading and horsepower
327.53
Marine sanitation
327.54
Liveries
327.56
Safety and marine sanitation equipment inspections
327.58
Jurisdiction
327.59
Marina evacuations
327.60
Local regulations
327.65
Muffling devices
327.66
Carriage of gasoline on vessels
327.70
Enforcement of this chapter and chapter 328
327.71
Exemption
327.72
Penalties
327.73
Noncriminal infractions
327.74
Uniform boating citations
327.301
Written reports of accidents
327.302
Accident report forms
327.331
Divers
327.352
Tests for alcohol, chemical substances, or controlled substances
327.353
Blood test for impairment or intoxication in cases of death or serious bodily injury
327.354
Presumption of impairment
327.355
Operation of vessels by persons under 21 years of age who have consumed alcoholic beverages
327.359
Refusal to submit to testing
327.371
Human-powered vessels regulated
327.375
Commercial parasailing
327.391
Airboats regulated
327.395
Boating safety education
327.461
Safety zones, security zones, regulated navigation areas, and naval vessel protection zones
327.462
Temporary protection zones for spaceflight launches and recovery of spaceflight assets
327.463
Special hazards
327.521
No-discharge zones
327.731
Mandatory education for violators
327.803
Boating Advisory Council
327.804
Compilation of statistics on boating accidents and violations
327.4107
Vessels at risk of becoming derelict on waters of this state
327.4108
Anchoring of vessels in anchoring limitation areas
327.4109
Anchoring or mooring prohibited
327.35215
Penalty for failure to submit to test

Current through Fall 2025

§ 327.65. Muffling devices's source at flsenate​.gov