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The following is a summary of state-specific vehicle idling restrictions and exemptions to those restrictions. Keep in mind that municipalities may also have idling requirements that are not addressed in this document. This information should be used as a guideline only.
State Comparison
State
Max Idle Time
Exemptions
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
- 5 minutes
- 10 minutes prior to passenger boarding or when passengers on-board a bus
- Traffic conditions
- Queuing beyond 100 ft. of restricted area
- Adverse weather conditions
- Mechanical difficulties
- Daily inspection
- Maintenance
- Power source for equipment or operations (lift, crane, pump, drill, hoist, mixer, or controlling cargo temperature)
- Heating, defrosting, cooling equipment to prevent health/safety emergency
- Emergency vehicles
- Military tactical vehicles
- Operating ADA prescribed equipment (wheelchair lift, etc.)
- Armored cars
- Workover rigs (used on a producing oil or gas well)
- 5 minutes in 1 hr
- 20 minutes in 1 hr < 10°F
- Passenger bus when idling for up to five minutes to maintain passenger comfort when non-driving passengers are on board
- Heat or cool a sleeper berth during a sleep or rest period when legally parked
- Traffic conditions
- Operation of defrosters, heaters, or air conditioners to prevent a safety or health emergency
- Emergency vehicles
- Vehicle maintenance or repair
- Vehicle inspection
- Operation of power take-off equipment if necessary for operating work-related mechanical or electrical equipment
- Armored vehicles when a person remains inside to guard contents or while loading/unloading
- A critical service or a utility provider, when performing the functions of the provider’s duties.
- 3 minutes
- No limit < 20° F
- Traffic conditions
- Mechanical difficulties
- Heating, defrosting, cooling equipment for driver/passenger health/safety
- Auxiliary equipment
- Manufacturer’s recommendation
- Maintenance
- In queue to be inspected to gain access to military installation
- 3 minutes
- 15 minutes 32° F to -10° F
- No limit < -10° F
- 5 minutes prior to boarding transit or school bus
- Traffic conditions
- Mechanical difficulties
- Manufacturer’s recommendation
- Maintenance
- Emergency vehicles
- Auxiliary equipment
- Heating, cooling, or ancillary equipment when in sleeper berth when vehicle not within 25 miles of parking facility with electrification equipment
- Daily vehicle inspection
- Transit or school bus when passengers on board
- Military vehicle involved in training
- 3 minutes
- 5 minutes ≤32° F
- Power takeoff equipment (dumping, cement mixers, refrigeration systems, content delivery, winches, shredders)
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
- An engine may not be in operation while the motor vehicle is stationary at a:
- Loading zone
- Parking/servicing area
- Route terminal
- Other off-street area
- 3 minutes to load or unload passengers
- 3 minutes engine startup/cool down
- Adjustment/repair at garage
- Equipment requiring power take-off from engine (ready-mix truck, crane, hoist, auxiliary equipment built onto the vehicle)
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
- 5 minutes in 1 hr.
- 15 minutes 32°F or less
- As needed <0°F
- 15 minutes in 1hr. when non-driver passengers are on board
- Provide heating/air conditioning while driver rests in sleeper berth during a rest or sleep period
- Operation of defrosters/heaters/air conditioners to prevent safety/health emergency
- Air conditioning/heating while waiting to load/unload
- Traffic conditions
- Emergency vehicles
- Vehicle maintenance/repair
- Vehicle inspection
- Powering work-related mechanical/electrical operations
- Armored vehicle when guard on board or loading/unloading
- 5 minutes
- Traffic conditions
- Mechanical difficulties
- Heating/cooling equipment
- Auxiliary equipment
- Manufacturer’s recommendation
- 5 minutes
- Maintenance
- Delivery when power is needed and alternate power is not available
- Associate power needed and alternate power is not available
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
- 15 minutes
- State-issued variance
- Emergency vehicle
- Snow removal
- Maintenance of other motor vehicles
- Traffic conditions
- Maintenance
- Emission contained and treated by state approved method
- Performing a specific task (well drilling, trenching, hoisting)
- 5 minutes > 32° F
- 15 minutes 32° F to -10° F
- No limit < -10° F
- Traffic conditions
- Emergency vehicles
- Power takeoff for lift gate pumps, refrigeration, etc.
- Heating/cooling for commercial passenger transportation
- Maintenance
- Defrost windshield
- 3 minutes
- 15 minutes, < 25° F, and stopped =3 hours
- 15 minutes in a 60-minute period when bus is discharging or picking up passengers
- Traffic conditions
- Auxiliary equipment (lift gate pumps, controlling cargo temperature, etc.)
- Waiting for inspection by law enforcement
- Performing emergency services (fire, police, public utility, military, snow removal)
- Maintenance
- Sleeper berth on a vehicle with a model year 2007 or newer engine (or retrofitted with a diesel particulate filter that is connected and properly functioning)
- Auxiliary/alternate power units, generator sets, bunk heaters
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
- 5 minutes
- No limit stopped > 2 hours and < 25° F
- Traffic conditions
- Passenger comfort regulation/law
- Auxiliary power (loading, discharge, mixing or processing cargo, controlling cargo temperature, construction, lumbering, oil/gas well servicing, farming
- Maintenance
- Emergency services (fire, police, public utility)
- Mining or quarrying
- State emissions inspection
- Hybrid electric vehicle recharging
- Agricultural purposes on farm
- Electric powered vehicles
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
- 5 minutes in any continuous 60-minute period
- For comfort when passengers on board (bus)
- 30 minutes waiting to or actually loading/unloading
- < 50°F or > 75°F to provide heat/air conditioning while waiting to or actually loading/unloading (> 26,000 lbs GVWR)
- < 50°F or > 75°F to provide heat/air conditioning to sleeper berth during rest/sleep period
- Traffic conditions
- Defrosters, heaters, or air conditioners;
- Installing equipment necessary to comply with manufacturers’ requirements
- Compliance with federal, state, or local safety regulations
- Emergency vehicles
- Vehicle maintenance or repair
- Vehicle inspection
- Powering work-related mechanical, safety, electrical, construction equipment.
- Armored vehicles when a person must remain inside to guard the contents or while the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded
- 5 minutes in 1 hr.
- 15 minutes in 1 hr. to actively load/unload, sample, weigh
- 15 minutes in 1 hr. to provide heating/air conditioning when non-driver passengers are on board (bus, school bus, school vehicle)
- Traffic conditions
- Operation of defrosters/heaters/air conditioners/cargo refrigeration equipment to prevent health/safety emergency
- Emergency vehicles
- Vehicle maintenance/repair
- Vehicle inspection
- Powering work-related mechanical/safety/electrical operations
- Armored vehicles when person inside to guard or loading/unloading
- Solid waste/recyclable collection
- 5 minutes in 1 hr.
- 15 minutes in 1 hr. 0° F to 32° F
- As needed when < 0° F to provide heat
- 15 minutes in 1hr. (passenger bus) < 50° F to maintain passenger comfort
- Traffic conditions
- Heating, defrosting, cooling equipment for driver/passenger health/safety
- Powering work-related mechanical or electrical operations (mixing/processing cargo, refrigeration)
- Maintenance
- Inspection by law enforcement
- Emergency or law enforcement (police, fire, rescue, ambulance, military)
- Armored vehicle when guard on board or vehicle is being loaded/unloaded
- Airfield maintenance at state-owned or operated airport
- Auxiliary power (electricity generator on-site)
- 10 minutes in any 60-minute period
- 15 minutes in a 60-minute period to provide heating or air conditioning when passengers are on a passenger-carrying vehicle
- An occupied vehicle with a sleeper berth for the purpose of heating or air conditioning:
- During a rest or sleep period;
- When the outside temperature is < 40°F or > 80°F; or
- While the vehicle is at a rest area, fleet trucking terminal, commercial truck stop, state designated location designed for the intended purpose of a driver’s rest area, or any location that a vehicle is legally permitted to park that is at least 500 feet from residential housing, schools, daycare facilities, hospitals, or similar locations.
- Traffic conditions;
- Operation of defrosters, heaters, air conditioners, cargo refrigeration equipment, or to install equipment to prevent a health or safety emergency;
- Emergency and law enforcement vehicles;
- Maintenance, servicing, or diagnostic purposes;
- Federal and state inspections;
- Powering work-related mechanical or electrical operations;
- An armored vehicle when a person remains on vehicle to guard the vehicle’s contents or while loading and unloading; or
- An occupied vehicle while waiting in line or queuing to load or unload.
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
- 5 minutes
- Bus for passenger comfort (non-driver)
- An occupied sleeper-berth for air conditioning or heat during a rest or sleep period (prior to 2018 model year vehicles)
- Traffic conditions
- Windshield defrosters and equipment addressing specific safety concerns
- Mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical operations other than propulsion such as mixing or processing cargo or straight truck refrigeration
- Emergency, public safety, military vehicles conducting official operations
- Maintenance, service, repair, diagnostic purposes or as part of state or federal inspection
- Armored vehicles
- 3 minutes in commercial or residential urban areas
- 10 minutes in commercial or residential urban areas (diesel vehicles)
- 10 minutes in hot weather to maintain air conditioning (tour bus)
- Auxiliary power
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
- 15 minutes in any 60-minute period
- 15 minutes in any 60-minute period except when necessary to provide heat/air conditioning to maintain safe temperature
- Sleeper berth for heat/air conditioning < 40° F or > 75° F
- Traffic conditions
- Operation of defroster, heater, air conditioner, cargo refrigeration to prevent safety/health emergency
- Emergency vehicles
- Maintenance, inspection, servicing, repairing, or diagnostic purposes
- Federal/state inspections
- Power work-related mechanical, safety, electrical operations
- Security inspection
- Armored vehicle
- Solid waste/recycling collection
- Vehicle with label issued by California Air Resources Board (13 CCR 1956.8(a)(6)(c))
- Vehicle powered by clean diesel technology or bio-diesel fuels
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A
State-wide idling regulation and/or law is not specifically cited in this state's regulations and/or statutes.
N/A