Sioux Falls, SD Noise from Specific Sources: Bar & Nightclub Noise (2026)
Key Facts
- Indoor sound cap
- 100 dB(A) at customer area
- Sign exemption
- 225 sq in warning sign required
- Commercial noise limit
- 65 dB(A) at property line, all times
- Enforcement
- Health department and police
- Max penalty
- $500 fine, 30 days jail
Summary
Sioux Falls limits enclosed bar and nightclub sound to 100 dB(A) at customer areas unless a code-compliant hearing-impairment warning sign is posted, and commercial-zone noise is capped at 65 dB(A) around the clock.
(6) Enclosed places of public entertainment. Operating or permitting to be operated in any place of public entertainment any loudspeaker or other source of sound which produces, at a point that is normally occupied by a customer, maximum sound pressure levels of 100 dB(A) as read with the slow response on a sound level meter, unless a conspicuous and legible sign at least 225 square inches in area is posted near each public entrance stating: "WARNING: SOUND LEVELS MAY CAUSE HEARING IMPAIRMENT."
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-135: Current through local ordinance 54-26, passed 7-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 93.002(b)(6) sets a hard 100 dB(A) ceiling for loudspeakers and sound systems inside bars, nightclubs and other enclosed entertainment venues, measured at a point customers normally occupy; exceeding it is unlawful unless the operator posts a 225-square-inch warning sign at every public entrance. Separately, § 93.003 caps stationary noise from commercial properties like bars at 65 dB(A) at all times, measured at the property line, with a 5 dB(A) reduction for pure-tone or cyclically varying sound. The health department shares enforcement with police; violations carry the § 10.999 general penalty of up to a $500 fine and 30 days in jail, with each day a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding 100 dB(A) indoors without a posted warning sign, or 65 dB(A) at the commercial property line, draws a citation, up to $500 fine, 30 days jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Sioux Falls bar avoid the 100 dB(A) limit?
Is there a separate outdoor noise limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sioux Falls
Compare Sioux Falls to another location·View the South Dakota noise from specific sources overview
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