Every one of these comes straight from the current California Vehicle Code, verified against the official state legislature text. This isn't legal advice, and enforcement varies by officer and by county, but these are the numbers on the books before you spend money on a build.
1. Window Tint (CVC 26708)
Front side windows must let through at least 70% of light (VLT), with no reflective tint allowed. The windshield only permits a non-reflective strip on the top 4 inches. Rear side windows and the back window can be any darkness, but only if the vehicle has mirrors on both sides, which every Bronco already does from the factory.
2. Exhaust Noise (CVC 27150 and 27151)
Every vehicle needs a functioning muffler, and cutouts or bypass devices are illegal outright. For vehicles under 6,000 lbs GVWR, the modified exhaust noise limit is 95 dBA, tested per current SAE standards. Check your specific trim's GVWR before assuming this limit applies: a loaded 4-door Wildtrak sits right at 6,160 lbs GVWR, which can push it into a different weight class than a lighter 2-door.
3. Lift Height (CVC 24008.5)
This is the one with real gray area. The law caps frame height at 23 inches for passenger vehicles, but sets higher limits for other vehicle types based on GVWR: 27 inches up to 4,500 lbs, 30 inches from 4,501 to 7,500 lbs, and 31 inches from 7,501 to 10,000 lbs. Whether a Bronco gets classified as a passenger vehicle or falls under the weight-based table is genuinely disputed among SUV and Jeep owners in California, and we haven't found a clean answer that settles it. The law also caps the body floor at no more than 5 inches above the top of the frame. A stock Bronco sits nowhere near either limit, but stacking a large lift with 37s and a body lift is where this starts to matter.
4. Fender and Mud Flap Coverage (CVC 27600)
Any equipment covering your tires, fenders, flares, or mud flaps, has to be at least as wide as the tire tread. CHP officers have told owners in writing that flares need to cover the tread itself, not just the sidewall, and that mud flaps should extend down to roughly the horizontal centerline of the tire. Going to 35s or 37s without flares wide enough to match is one of the more common fix-it tickets Bronco and Jeep owners report.
5. Auxiliary and Off-Road Lights (CVC 24411)
You can run up to 8 off-road lamps, but they have to be wired on their own separate circuit, mounted at least 16 inches off the ground and no more than 12 inches above the roof of the cab, and covered or switched off the moment you're on a public road. This covers light bars, pod lights, and most auxiliary lighting setups people add through the Bronco's factory upfitter switches.
6. Headlamp Mounting Height (CVC 24400)
Headlamps have to sit between 22 and 54 inches off the ground. This one rarely matters on a stock Bronco, but a serious lift combined with 37-inch tires can push headlight height toward that 54-inch ceiling, which is worth checking before you finalize a build that aggressive.
FAQ
Is it illegal to run a straight pipe exhaust in California?
Yes. CVC 27150 requires a functioning muffler and bans cutout or bypass devices outright, regardless of decibel output.
Do I need to cover my light bar when driving on the street?
Yes. CVC 24411 requires off-road auxiliary lights to be covered or turned off whenever you're on a public road, no exceptions for how the lights are wired or switched.
How dark can I legally tint my Bronco's windows?
Front side windows need at least 70% VLT. Rear side and back windows can be any darkness as long as the vehicle has dual side mirrors, which every Bronco has.
Is there a maximum legal lift height for a Bronco in California?
There's a real gray area here. Passenger vehicles are capped at 23 inches of frame height, while other vehicle types get higher limits based on GVWR. Which category a Bronco falls into isn't clearly settled, so a stock or moderately lifted Bronco is fine, but an aggressive build is worth double-checking.
Do fender flares need to fully cover larger tires?
Yes. CVC 27600 requires flares or mud flaps to be at least as wide as the tire tread, and CHP guidance says coverage should extend down to roughly the tire's horizontal centerline.
Running 35s or bigger and need flares that cover them? See our fender flare mistakes guide before you order.
About This Guide
This was put together by the team at Bronco Forge. We sell aftermarket parts exclusively for the Ford Bronco and reference current California Vehicle Code sections directly when writing about legal requirements. Questions about fitment or anything Bronco-related? Reach out at contact@broncoforge.com or (909) 772-8050.
