Sioux Falls, SD Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Events (2026)

Sioux Falls treats amplified music as a high-priority enforcement category. Three regimes apply: (1) § 93.002(b)(2)A makes it unlawful at any time to operate a radio, musical instrument, drum, TV, phonograph or similar device 'in a manner as to violate § 93.003 or cause a noise disturbance' (decibel violation or reasonable-person disturbance). (2) § 93.002(b)(2)B adds a strict per-se nighttime rule: operating any such device between 10:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. is unlawful if the sound is 'plainly audible at the property boundary of the source or plainly audible at 50 feet from the device when operated within a vehicle parked on a public right-of-way or plainly audible at 100 feet from the device when operated within a moving vehicle.' (3) § 93.002(b)(3) separately prohibits using loudspeakers or sound-amplifying equipment — fixed, movable, or vehicle-mounted — in streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks or public property for commercial advertising, announcements, music or talks in a manner that exceeds § 93.003 limits or causes a noise disturbance. Sound permits under § 93.007 are the safety valve. Permits are issued by the Health Director, must be applied for in advance (1 week for ≤3-day events; 1 month for special extended-time permits), cost $90–$170+ for 1–3-day events plus past-deadline penalties, and limit permitted sound to L90 70 dB(A) (or no more than five peaks of 77 dB(A) in any three-minute period) until 8:00 p.m., dropping to L90 65 dB(A) until 10:30 p.m. expiration. The Main Street Sioux Falls Business Improvement District (downtown) is the only zone where permits extend to 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights — held at the same 70 dB(A) L90 cap. § 93.002(b)(6) imposes a separate 100 dB(A) limit at the customer position for enclosed venues (concert halls, bars with live music), with a posted hearing-impairment warning sign of at least 225 square inches required for any venue exceeding that level. Citizen oversight: under § 93.009(g), 25 affected residents may petition for compliance review of any active sound permit.