Noise Ordinances in Sioux Falls, SD: What Residents Actually Need to Know

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 10 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of noise ordinances, and some of them might surprise you.

Industrial Noise

Sioux Falls Code § 93.003 (Use district noise levels) sets the property-line decibel limits applicable to industrial sources. Residential receivers are protected at 60 dBA day / 55 dBA night; commercial receivers at 65 dBA. Construction equipment noise is capped at 75 dBA measured at 50 feet under § 93.002.

Key details: Residential receiver limit: 60 dBA day / 55 dBA night. Commercial receiver limit: 65 dBA (24/7). Construction equipment: 75 dBA at 50 ft (§ 93.002). Measurement: A-weighted, ≥25 ft from source, ≥4 ft above ground. Enforcement: Sioux Falls Code Enforcement / SFPD.

Civil municipal infraction under Chapter 93. Complaints to Sioux Falls Code Enforcement (605-367-8255) or non-emergency police (605-367-7000). Persistent violations may be abated as a public nuisance under SDCL § 21-10-1 in addition to municipal penalties.

Leaf Blower Rules

Sioux Falls does not ban gas-powered leaf blowers and does not impose a separate leaf-blower curfew. Domestic blowers, mowers, edgers and similar grounds-maintenance equipment fall under § 93.006(f), which permits operation up to 75 dB(A) at 50 feet between 6:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. Commercial landscape crews using equipment over 5 horsepower may operate at up to 82 dB(A) at 50 ft in the same window under § 93.006(g).

Key details: Permitted blower window: 6:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. (§ 93.006(f)). Homeowner equipment dB cap: 75 dB(A) at 50 ft, ≤5 hp. Commercial equipment dB cap: 82 dB(A) at 50 ft, >5 hp (§ 93.006(g)). Gas blower ban?: No — no Sioux Falls fuel-type restriction. Near schools/hospitals: Sensitive-zone limits in § 93.002(b)(13) override the carve-out while institution is in use.

Joint Health Department / Police enforcement under § 93.009. § 10.999 general penalty: Class 2 misdemeanor (up to 30 days and/or $500 per offense). Repeat lawn-care offenders near schools or hospitals face the lower sensitive-zone thresholds.

The rules around leaf blower rules in Sioux Falls lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Amplified Music & Events

Sioux Falls Code § 93.002(b)(2)B and (b)(3) make amplified music and loudspeakers per-se unlawful between 10:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. when 'plainly audible' across the property line. § 93.007 sound permits are available from the Health Director and cap permitted music at L90 70 dB(A) (drops to 65 dB(A) after 8 p.m.), expiring at 10:30 p.m. Downtown BID permits run until 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Key details: Nighttime per-se rule: Plainly audible across property line 10:30 p.m.–6:00 a.m. (§ 93.002(b)(2)B). Permit decibel cap: L90 70 dB(A) until 8 p.m., then 65 dB(A) (§ 93.007(b)(4)). Permit expiration: 10:30 p.m. (11:30 p.m. Fri/Sat in Main Street BID). Enclosed venue cap: 100 dB(A) without posted warning sign (§ 93.002(b)(6)). Permit cost: $90 (1-day) to $170+ (3-day); $240/mo single-vendor.

Class 2 misdemeanor under § 10.999 (up to 30 days and/or $500 per offense). Permit violations trigger § 93.009(d)–(f): notice of violation, citation, and after two notices a compliance review that can revoke the permit and bar future permits. § 93.010 also classifies any violation as a nuisance subject to injunctive abatement.

Aircraft Noise

Aircraft-in-flight noise is preempted by federal law (FAA / 49 U.S.C. § 40103 navigable airspace) and is NOT regulated by Sioux Falls Code Chapter 93. Joe Foss Field (KFSD) is a joint civil/military airport hosting the SD Air National Guard 114th Fighter Wing (F-16s), and overflight noise is addressed only through voluntary FAR Part 150 noise-compatibility planning, not municipal ordinance.

Key details: Local ordinance: None — federally preempted. Authority: FAA / 14 CFR Part 150. Airport: Joe Foss Field (KFSD) — joint civil/military. Military tenant: SD ANG 114th Fighter Wing (F-16C/D). Significance threshold: DNL 65 dB (FAA standard).

No municipal violation for aircraft-in-flight noise. Complaints about commercial flights or military F-16 operations should be directed to Sioux Falls Regional Airport (605-336-0762) or the SD Air National Guard 114th Fighter Wing, not the City of Sioux Falls. FAA Noise Ombudsman: 202-267-3521.

Sioux Falls is more permissive than most cities when it comes to aircraft noise. That said, there are still limits.

Decibel Limits

Sioux Falls Code § 93.003 sets maximum sound pressure levels at the property boundary: 60 dBA daytime / 55 dBA nighttime in residential use districts and 65 dBA (all hours) in commercial districts. Nighttime hours run 10:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Measurements are A-weighted, taken at least 25 feet from the source and at least 4 feet above the ground.

Key details: Residential day (6 a.m.–10:30 p.m.): 60 dBA. Residential night (10:30 p.m.–6 a.m.): 55 dBA. Commercial (24/7): 65 dBA. Plainly-audible cutoff: 10:30 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.. Measurement: A-weighted, ≥25 ft / ≥4 ft height.

Violation of Chapter 93 is a municipal infraction; civil penalties and abatement orders typical. Police may also charge disorderly conduct under SDCL § 22-18-35 (Class 2 misdemeanor) for unreasonable loud noise made to cause public alarm.

Outdoor Music

Outdoor amplified music in Sioux Falls is subject to Chapter 93 use-district limits unless a special permit is obtained. The Main Street Sioux Falls Business Improvement District has a tailored permit allowing L90 70 dBA with no more than five 77 dBA peaks per three-minute period; weeknight permits expire 10:30 p.m., weekend permits 11:30 p.m. Outside the BID, amplified sound after 10:30 p.m. is prohibited if plainly audible at the property line.

Key details: Default residential limit: 60 dBA day / 55 dBA night. Downtown BID permit: L90 70 dBA, ≤5 peaks ≥77 dBA / 3 min. Weeknight BID cutoff: 10:30 p.m.. Fri/Sat BID cutoff: 11:30 p.m.. Plainly audible window: 10:30 p.m. – 6:00 a.m..

Municipal infraction under § 93.002 / § 93.003 — civil fines. Disregarding a permit's terms voids the permit. After-hours amplified sound plainly audible at the property line is independently citable under the § 93.002 plainly-audible rule, even without a meter reading.

Vehicle Noise

Sioux Falls Code § 93.008 prohibits operating a motor vehicle unless its exhaust system is free from defects, fitted with a muffler/noise-dissipative device, and has no cutout/bypass. Pass-by limits measured at 25 feet, 4 feet height: 80–84 dBA for passenger vehicles and 90–94 dBA for trucks over 10,000 lb GVWR/GCWR (varies by posted speed limit).

Key details: Passenger vehicle ≤35 mph: 80 dBA at 25 ft. Passenger vehicle >35 mph: 84 dBA at 25 ft. Truck >10,000 lb ≤35 mph: 90 dBA at 25 ft. Truck >10,000 lb >35 mph: 94 dBA at 25 ft. Muffler required: Yes — no cutouts/bypasses.

Citation under § 93.008 (municipal traffic infraction) — fine, vehicle equipment-correction order. Boom-car violations under § 93.002 carry separate municipal penalties. Repeat exhaust violations can trigger SDCL Chapter 32-15 equipment violations and inspection requirements.

Quiet Hours

Sioux Falls Code Chapter 93 sets nighttime quiet hours of 10:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and caps stationary residential sound at 50 dB(A) at night (60 dB(A) day) measured at the property boundary. Amplified devices that are 'plainly audible' across a property line during those hours are a separate per-se violation under § 93.002(b)(2)B.

Key details: Nighttime quiet hours: 10:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (§ 93.002(b)(2)B, § 93.003). Residential night dB(A) cap: 55 dB(A) L90 at boundary (§ 93.003(a)). Residential day dB(A) cap: 60 dB(A) L90 at boundary (§ 93.003(a)). Per-se test at night: 'Plainly audible' at property line — no meter needed. Tonal/cyclic penalty: Limit reduced by 5 dB(A) (§ 93.003(b)(1)).

Enforcement is shared between the Sioux Falls Health Department and the Police Department under § 93.009. § 93.010 also declares any violation of §§ 93.002–93.008 to be a nuisance subject to summary abatement by injunction. Penalty is set by the general penalty in § 10.999 (Class 2 misdemeanor under the South Dakota schedule adopted by reference: up to 30 days in jail and/or a $500 fine per offense, plus court costs). Repeat violations may trigger compliance review and revocation of any held sound permit.

Construction Hours

Construction, repair, alteration and demolition work in Sioux Falls is exempt from the residential decibel caps only between 6:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., and only if the sound pressure level at 50 feet stays at or below 75 dB(A) (§ 93.006(e)). Outside those hours, ordinary residential limits (55 dB(A) night) and the per-se 'plainly audible' rule apply.

Key details: Permitted construction window: 6:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. (§ 93.006(e)). Construction dB(A) cap: 75 dB(A) at 50 feet. Home power tools (≤5 hp): 75 dB(A) at 50 ft, 6 a.m.–10:30 p.m. (§ 93.006(f)). Commercial power tools (>5 hp): 82 dB(A) at 50 ft (§ 93.006(g)). After-hours permit cap: L90 70 dB(A) to 8 p.m., 65 dB(A) to 10:30 p.m. (§ 93.007(b)(4)).

Joint enforcement by the Sioux Falls Health Department and the Police Department (§ 93.009). General penalty under § 10.999: Class 2 misdemeanor (up to 30 days and/or $500 per offense). Building Services can additionally issue stop-work orders against the active permit if construction noise violations recur. Violations may also be abated as nuisances under § 93.010 via injunction.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Sioux Falls gives residents more flexibility on construction hours.

Barking Dogs

Sioux Falls Code § 90.004 (Disturbing the Peace) gives Animal Control or any police officer authority to remove and impound an animal that is disturbing the peace when the owner cannot be located. Barking dogs are also a 'noise disturbance' under Chapter 93 — the Code Enforcement test is whether the barking annoys reasonable persons of normal sensitivities at the property boundary.

Key details: Primary code section: Sioux Falls Code § 90.004 (Disturbing the Peace). Backup code section: § 93.002(a) noise disturbance. Time of day: Applies day and night — no quiet-hours grace period. Report line: Animal Control 605-367-7000 (while barking is occurring). Enforcement tool: Citation + impoundment when owner not reachable.

Animal Control may issue a citation under § 90.004 and impound the animal; redemption requires payment of impound fees plus any unpaid license fee. The general penalty in § 10.999 applies (Class 2 misdemeanor — up to 30 days and/or $500 per offense). Habitual offenders face escalating fines and potential 'public nuisance' classification under Chapter 93 § 93.010 with summary-abatement injunction.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Sioux Falls gives residents more room on noise ordinances. 3 of the 10 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

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.