How West Valley City Handles Noise Ordinances: A Practical Guide

West Valley City maintains 122 local ordinances across all categories, and 7 of those deal specifically with noise ordinances. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where West Valley City falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound

West Valley City limits amplified sound under Municipal Code § 24-22-108(3): running a loudspeaker or sound-amplifying equipment on a street, sidewalk, park or other public property to broadcast music, ads or talks is a noise violation if it's plainly audible at the property line between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., or plainly audible from 50 feet at any hour. A temporary event permit can lift the restriction under § 24-22-112.

Key details: Governing section: § 24-22-108(3), Public Loudspeakers. Nighttime rule: 10 p.m.-7 a.m., audible at property line. Anytime rule: Audible from 50 feet. Residential dB cap: 50 dB(A) night / 55 dB(A) day. Waiver: Available under § 24-22-112.

A violation of the loudspeaker or amplified-music provisions is a class B misdemeanor under Section 24-22-119, with each day of continued violation punishable as a separate offense. The Salt Lake Valley Health Department and the West Valley City Police Department both have enforcement authority under Section 24-22-114, and repeated or ongoing violations of the general prohibition can also be treated as a nuisance subject to a court injunction or restraining order under Section 24-22-121.

Barking Dogs

A dog, cat or other animal that barks, howls or otherwise makes noise frequently or habitually enough to disturb neighbors violates Municipal Code § 24-22-108(5), which bars owning, keeping, possessing or harboring any animal that causes a "noise disturbance" by frequent or habitual noisemaking. The rule applies whenever the noise is plainly audible at the property line overnight or from 50 feet at any hour.

Key details: Governing section: § 24-22-108(5), Animals. Standard: Frequent or habitual noisemaking, not one bark. Nighttime test: Audible at property line, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.. Anytime test: Audible from 50 feet. Enforcement: Health Department and West Valley City Police.

Keeping an animal that habitually disturbs the neighborhood with noise is a class B misdemeanor under Section 24-22-119, and each day the disturbance continues is chargeable as a separate offense. A pattern of unresolved barking complaints can also be pursued as a nuisance under Section 24-22-121, letting the City or an affected neighbor seek a restraining order or injunction from a court in addition to any misdemeanor citation.

Construction Hours

West Valley City doesn't set a simple construction curfew; Municipal Code § 24-22-108(7) bars operating construction, repair or demolition equipment between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. when it's plainly audible at the site's property boundary, or at any time if the equipment exceeds the manufacturing-zone decibel limits in § 24-22-109, 75 dB(A) at night and 80 dB(A) by day, wherever the work is happening.

Key details: Governing section: § 24-22-108(7), Construction Work. Nighttime rule: 10 p.m.-7 a.m., audible at boundary. Anytime rule: Exceeds manufacturing-zone dB limit. Manufacturing cap: 75 dB(A) night / 80 dB(A) day. Waiver: Available under § 24-22-112.

A construction-noise violation is a class B misdemeanor under Section 24-22-119, with each day of noncompliant operation charged as a separate offense. The Salt Lake Valley Health Department and West Valley City Police Department share enforcement authority under Section 24-22-114, and sound level measurements are taken with an ANSI-standard, A-weighted sound level meter under Section 24-22-110 rather than by a simple audibility judgment call.

Decibel Limits

West Valley City sets numeric decibel ceilings by zone and time of day: 50-55 dB(A) residential, 55-60 dB(A) commercial, 75-80 dB(A) manufacturing.

Key details: Residential cap: 50 dB(A) night / 55 day. Commercial cap: 55 dB(A) night / 60 day. Manufacturing cap: 75 dB(A) night / 80 day. Pure-tone penalty: Minus 5 dB(A) further.

Exceeding the zone's dB(A) ceiling is a violation of § 24-22-109, enforceable as a class B misdemeanor under § 24-22-119, with penalties per occurrence.

Leaf Blower Rules

West Valley City limits leaf blowers, lawn mowers, chain saws and other power equipment rated five horsepower or less to 74 dB(A) measured 50 feet from the source, under Municipal Code Section 24-22-108(8). Unlike most noise violations in this chapter, the limit applies around the clock, not just during the 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. quiet hours that cover other disturbances.

Key details: Decibel limit: 74 dB(A) at 50 feet. Covered equipment: Power tools rated 5 HP or less. Generator exception: Up to 80 dB(A) during outage/maintenance. Hours covered: 24 hours, no nighttime-only window. Enforcement: Salt Lake Valley Health Dept. & WVC Police.

A confirmed violation of Section 24-22-108(8) is a class B misdemeanor under Section 24-22-119, and each day the excessive noise continues is a separate offense. The Salt Lake Valley Health Department and the West Valley City Police Department share enforcement authority under Section 24-22-114, and either can measure sound levels and issue a citation once a power tool is confirmed to exceed 74 dB(A) at 50 feet.

Vehicle Noise

West Valley City requires every motor vehicle's exhaust system to run a working muffler, free of defects, with no cut-out or bypass device, under Municipal Code Section 24-22-113(3). The section also caps drive-by noise measured 25 feet from the nearest lane at a height of four feet, and the code separately bans engine or 'Jake' brakes except to avoid imminent danger.

Key details: Measurement point: 25 feet from nearest lane, 4-foot height. Muffler rule: No cut-out, bypass or defective exhaust. Engine brake ban: Jake brakes barred except imminent danger. Snowmobile/RV limit: 82 dB(A) at 50 feet, post-1977 models. Penalty: Class B misdemeanor, Section 24-22-119.

Violating the exhaust and muffler standard is a class B misdemeanor under Section 24-22-119, with each recorded occurrence over the limit treated as a separate offense. The Salt Lake Valley Health Department and West Valley City Police Department share enforcement authority under Section 24-22-114, and either agency can measure drive-by noise or inspect a vehicle's exhaust system for a cut-out or missing muffler.

Quiet Hours

West Valley City bans noise that's plainly audible at your property line between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and bans noise audible 50 feet away at any hour.

Key details: Quiet hours: 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. Anytime standard: plainly audible 50 feet away. Enforcement: Salt Lake Valley Health Dept. & WVC Police. Penalty: Class B misdemeanor, per day. Waiver: Available under § 24-22-112.

Violating the noise ordinance is a class B misdemeanor under § 24-22-119; each day the violation continues is a separate offense, and habitual sources can be summarily abated as a nuisance under § 24-22-121.

The Bottom Line

West Valley City'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 West Valley City is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects West Valley City's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.