How long a truck may idle, whether you can run heat or A/C in the sleeper, and where to read each law. Made for owner-operators who park and sleep in many states.
17 states and D.C. have a truck idling limit that covers the whole state. Most are 5 minutes. The shortest is 3 minutes (CT, DC, DE and NJ) and the longest is 15 minutes (NV and WV). Some states let you run heat or air conditioning in the sleeper, and some do not. A few more states only cover some counties or cities, and many cities have their own rule. We read each law on October 15, 2026.
Checked against each law on October 15, 2026. This is a guide, not legal advice. Laws change, so read the law linked in each row before you rely on it.
This lists the 17 states and D.C. with a limit that covers the whole state, plus 3 states where the rule covers only some areas, and New York City. Pick a place to jump to the details below.
| Place | Time limit | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| California | 5 minutes in a row, anywhere | Whole state |
| Connecticut | 3 minutes in a row | Whole state |
| Delaware | 3 minutes in a row, heavy-duty trucks | Whole state |
| District of Columbia | 3 minutes, parked, stopped or standing | Whole state |
| Hawaii | No engine running while stopped at loading zones, parking or servicing areas, route terminals and other off-street areas | Whole state |
| Illinois | 10 minutes in any 60 minutes (diesel) | Some areas only |
| Maine | 5 minutes in any 60 minutes | Whole state |
| Maryland | 5 minutes in a row | Whole state |
| Massachusetts | 5 minutes (when stopped more than 5 minutes) | Whole state |
| Nevada | 15 minutes in a row (diesel trucks and buses) | Whole state |
| New Hampshire | 5 minutes in any 60 minutes above 32°F. 15 minutes from -10°F to 32°F. No limit below -10°F. | Whole state |
| New Jersey | 3 minutes in a row (diesel) | Whole state |
| New York | 5 minutes in a row | Whole state |
| New York City | 3 minutes. 1 minute next to a school or in or next to a park. | City |
| Oregon | 5 minutes in any 60 minutes | Whole state |
| Pennsylvania | 5 minutes in any 60 minutes (diesel, 10,001 pounds or more) | Whole state |
| Rhode Island | 5 minutes in any 60 minutes (diesel) | Whole state |
| South Carolina | 10 minutes in any 60 minutes (commercial diesel, 10,001 pounds or more) | Whole state |
| Texas | 5 minutes in a row (heavy-duty vehicles) | Some areas only |
| Vermont | 5 minutes in any 60 minutes | Whole state |
| Virginia | 3 minutes when parked, for commercial or public service vehicles | Some areas only |
| West Virginia | 15 minutes in any 60 minutes (diesel, 10,001 pounds or more) | Whole state |
This is the question most drivers have. The answer is different in every state, and some states have ended their sleeper-berth exemption. Here is what the laws we read say:
California
The old sleeper-berth exemption ended. A truck with the CARB Clean Idle label is exempt, except within 100 feet of a restricted area.
Connecticut
DEEP does not name a sleeper-berth exemption. It does allow idling for heating or cooling a driver needs for health or safety.
Delaware
You may run heat, A/C or equipment in the sleeper only if you are more than 25 miles from a parking spot with truck-stop electric hookups. For heat, you may idle up to 15 minutes in a row from -10°F to 32°F. Below -10°F there is no limit.
District of Columbia
No sleeper-berth exemption. You may idle up to 5 minutes to run heat when it is 32°F or below.
Hawaii
No sleeper-berth exemption is listed. Air conditioning does not qualify for the equipment exemption.
Illinois
You may run A/C or heat while you rest or sleep in the sleeper berth.
Maine
You may run A/C or heat in the sleeper while you rest or sleep. You may also run it while you wait to load or unload.
Maryland
You may idle to run heating, cooling or equipment built into the vehicle.
Massachusetts
No sleeper-berth exemption is listed.
Nevada
No sleeper-berth exemption is listed.
New Hampshire
No sleeper-berth exemption is listed.
New Jersey
You may idle in the sleeper while you rest if the truck has a 2007 or newer engine or a working diesel particulate filter, and you are not in a residential zone. You may not idle if the truck has a working APU.
New York
No sleeper-berth exemption is listed. A diesel truck stopped more than 2 hours when it is below 25°F is exempt.
New York City
No sleeper-berth exemption in the city law. The engine may run to operate a loading, unloading or processing device.
Oregon
You may run A/C or heat while you rest or sleep in a truck over 26,000 pounds when it is below 50°F or above 75°F. This does not apply if the truck has an APU or other idle-reduction device. Read the law for more conditions.
Pennsylvania
No sleeper-berth exemption. The one in the law ended May 1, 2010.
Rhode Island
The sleeper-berth exemption ended July 1, 2010. You may idle for heat needed for health or safety: up to 15 minutes an hour from 0°F to 32°F, and as needed below 0°F.
South Carolina
You may run A/C or heat while you rest or sleep. You may also idle when it is below 40°F or above 80°F, or at a rest area or truck stop. Other legal parking spots work if they are at least 500 feet from homes, schools, day cares and hospitals.
Texas
Check the exemptions in 30 TAC §114.517. TCEQ removed its old sleeper-berth limit near homes, schools and hospitals in 2011.
Vermont
The sleeper-berth exemption covers only trucks built before model year 2018.
Virginia
The rule does not mention sleeper berths.
West Virginia
You may run A/C or heat while you rest or sleep when it is below 40°F or above 75°F. This does not apply if you park where idle-reduction power is available at the start of your rest.
Running an APU, a generator set or other idle-reduction gear is often not counted as idling. Check the row for your state. Shore power at a truck stop is another way to keep the engine off.
Each card shows the limit, any fine we confirmed, common exemptions, and a link to the law.
A city or county can set a stricter limit than its state. We did not read these local codes, so we give no numbers here. Look up the city code before you park.
ATRI keeps a longer list of state and local rules in its idling regulations compendium. ATRI says its list is for reference and tells readers to check the actual code, which is what we did for the rows above.
Find a truck stop or rest area near you before your clock runs out.
Open toolPlan a legal split rest so you know where you will park and sleep.
Open toolSee what a trip costs in fuel, and what idle time adds.
Open toolSee how speed and habits change your fuel use.
Open toolShort answers to what drivers ask most about idling limits, sleeper berths and APUs.
It depends on the place. Most limits are 5 minutes. The shortest in our list is 3 minutes and the longest is 15 minutes. Many laws count minutes in any 60-minute period, and some count minutes in a row. Check the row for the state you are in.
It depends. Maine, South Carolina, Illinois, Oregon and West Virginia allow it in some cases. Pennsylvania and Rhode Island ended their sleeper-berth exemptions in 2010. Vermont's covers only trucks built before 2018. Many states do not list one. Read the sleeper column, and use an APU or shore power if you can.
Often it does not. Illinois, Oregon, Rhode Island and South Carolina say running an APU or generator set is not idling. Some states add rules. For example, California limits an APU to 5 minutes near restricted areas. Check your state's row.
Often. Connecticut allows idling below 20°F. New Hampshire allows 15 minutes from -10°F to 32°F. Illinois has no limit below 32°F or above 80°F. New Jersey allows 15 minutes after 3 hours stopped below 25°F. Some states only allow it for health or safety.
Many states have no limit that covers the whole state, and we did not list them. That does not mean you are free to idle. A city or county can set its own limit, and big cities often do. Check the local rules for where you park.
Turn the engine off when you stop, unless an exemption clearly applies. Use an APU, a battery system or truck-stop shore power for heat and cooling. Park where the local rule allows it. Keep repair and inspection papers if you must idle for them.