Noise Ordinances in Sioux Falls, SD

If you live in Sioux Falls or are thinking about moving there, noise ordinances are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Sioux Falls has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of noise ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Vehicle Noise

Sioux Falls caps vehicle noise at 80-90 dB(A) depending on weight and speed, and bans cutout or bypass mufflers citywide.

Key details: Light vehicle limit: 80 dB(A) at 40 mph or less. Heavy vehicle limit: 90 dB(A) at 40 mph or less. Measurement point: 25 feet, 4 feet high. Cutout/bypass mufflers: Banned outright. Max penalty: $500 fine / 30 days jail.

Violating the noise limits or running a cutout/bypass exhaust is a misdemeanor: up to a $500 fine, up to 30 days in the county jail, or both, under the city's general penalty clause (§ 10.999), with each day of continued violation a separate offense.

Construction Hours

Construction noise is allowed 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. without a permit, capped at 75 dBA measured 50 feet away.

Key details: Allowed hours: 6:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m.. Noise cap: 75 dBA at 50 feet. Permit needed: No, within hours/cap. Enforcement: Health director. Outside hours: Falls under general noise ban.

Violations of the general noise code carry the penalty set in § 10.999; running loud equipment after 10:30 p.m. or before 6:00 a.m. without a permit is a code violation the health department can cite.

Quiet Hours

Sioux Falls bans plainly audible sound devices and sets lower decibel caps citywide between 10:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Key details: Quiet hours: 10:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.. Residential nighttime cap: 55 dB(A). Noise-sensitive zone nighttime cap: 50 dB(A). Max penalty: $500 fine / 30 days jail.

Fine up to $500 and/or up to 30 days in county jail under the Code's general penalty; each day of continuing violation is a separate offense.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

Sioux Falls requires a health department sound permit for outdoor amplified music, capping levels at 70 dbA (L90) until 8 p.m. and 65 dbA after, with permits expiring at 10:30 p.m.

Key details: Permit required: Sound permit from health director. Daytime cap: L90 70 dbA until 8 p.m.. Evening cap: L90 65 dbA, 8-10:30 p.m.. Permit hours: 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.. Main St BID exception: Fri/Sat until 11:30 p.m..

Amplifying outdoor music without a permit, or exceeding the L90/peak decibel caps or the 10:30 p.m. cutoff, is a noise violation enforced by the health director and can draw citation or permit revocation.

Decibel Limits

Sioux Falls caps stationary industrial-source noise at 75 dB(A) at all times, measured at the property boundary, under the city's use-district noise standards.

Key details: Industrial limit: 75 dB(A), all times. Commercial limit: 65 dB(A), all times. Measured at: property boundary (L90). Tonal/impulsive sound: limit cut by 5 dB(A). Enforced by: health department + police.

Fined up to $500 and/or jailed up to 30 days per § 10.999; each day of continuing violation is a separate offense.

Aircraft Noise

Land near Sioux Falls Regional Airport falls under a noise and safety overlay requiring sound-reduction construction and avigation easements.

Key details: NLR requirement: At least 10 dbl reduction. Target indoor level: 55 dbl to 45 dbl. Residential permits: Avigation easement required. Governs: Approach, transition, conical, noise-exposure zones.

Noncompliant zoning or building permits in the overlay go to Planning Commission review; the district conditions attach to plat approval if not met by the permit's effective date.

Barking Dogs

Sioux Falls bans letting an animal create a disturbance through loud noise at any time of day or night, and lets animal control impound an animal disturbing the peace if the owner can't be located.

Key details: Citation: § 90.004. Max fine: $500 per offense. Max jail: 30 days. Enforcement: Animal control or police. Continuing violation: Each day a separate offense.

Violations fall under the city's general penalty, § 10.999: up to a $500 fine, 30 days in jail, or both, and each day the disturbance continues counts as a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Sioux Falls's noise ordinances rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Sioux Falls is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Sioux Falls's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.