How South Jordan Handles Noise Ordinances: A Practical Guide
South Jordan maintains 107 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with noise ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where South Jordan falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Barking Dogs
South Jordan makes it unlawful for an owner to let a dog or other animal bark, whine, or howl excessively, continuously, or at untimely hours; a first violation is an infraction under § 6.08.020.
Key details: Citation: South Jordan City Code § 6.08.020(A)(3). First offense: Infraction. Repeat offense (5 yrs): Class B misdemeanor. Standard: Excessive, continuous, or untimely noise. Liability: Owner strictly liable for damage.
A first excessive-barking violation is an infraction; a repeat offense within five years is a class B misdemeanor, and the owner remains strictly liable for any resulting injury or damage.
Vehicle Noise
South Jordan prohibits operating a motor vehicle with its dynamic braking device, a compression-release 'Jake brake', engaged anywhere in the city, except to avoid imminent danger.
Key details: Governing section: § 10.24.040 Dynamic Braking. Rule: No Jake brake use, period. Exception: Only imminent danger. Last amended: Ord. 2026-12, May 2026.
Engaging a dynamic or Jake brake outside an imminent-danger emergency violates § 10.24.040; Title 10 offenses default to a class C misdemeanor under § 10.04.090.
Compared to other cities, South Jordan takes a harder line on vehicle noise. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Quiet Hours
South Jordan bans mechanical parking-lot sweeping, commercial trash pickup, and construction or land-development activity between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. citywide to curb nighttime noise, with narrow exemptions for low-impact or emergency work.
Key details: Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. Restricted activity: Construction, sweeping, trash pickup, deliveries. Citation: South Jordan City Code § 17.04.290. Penalty: Class C misdemeanor, per day. Exemption: City Manager may exempt low-impact projects.
Violating the 10 p.m.-7 a.m. work curfew is a Class C misdemeanor under § 17.04.090; each day of the violation counts as a separate offense.
Decibel Limits
South Jordan's zoning code sets no citywide decibel limit for general noise; the sole numeric dBA cap applies to wind energy conversion systems, capped at 45 decibels at any property line.
Key details: Property-line limit: 45 dBA (60 dBA in P-C areas). Applies to: Wind energy conversion systems only. Enforcement: Immediate shutdown, City-verified retest. General noise: No citywide dBA ordinance exists.
Wind turbines exceeding 45 dBA (60 dBA in parts of the P-C zone) must shut down immediately on City notice and stay off until an independent, City-approved inspector verifies compliance at the owner's expense.
The Bottom Line
South Jordan'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 South Jordan is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that South Jordan can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.