Grant County, WI Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime limit
- 50 dB(A) for small wind systems
- Nighttime limit
- 45 dB(A) for small wind systems
- Measured at
- Outside wall of a nonparticipating residence or community building
- Small system size
- 300 kilowatts or less total, turbines of 100 kilowatts or less
- Retest rule
- Noise study if no accurate test within two years of complaint
- Forfeiture
- $100 to $1,000 per offense, doubled on repeat
Summary
In unincorporated Grant County, Wisconsin, noise from a small wind energy system cannot exceed 50 dB(A) in the daytime and 45 dB(A) at night, measured at the outside wall of a nonparticipating residence or occupied community building. Section 270-4C sets those numbers. Convictions carry forfeitures of $100 to $1,000 per offense.
C. Noise. (1) For small wind energy systems: ... (a) The noise generated by the operation of a small wind energy system may not exceed 50 dB(A) during the daytime hours and 45 dB(A) during the nighttime hours as measured at the outside wall of a nonparticipating residence or occupied community building that existed when the owner gave notice pursuant to § PSC 128.105(1), Wis. Adm. Code, or for which complete publicly available plans for construction were on file with a political subdivision within 30 days of the date when the owner gave notice pursuant to § PSC 128.105(1), Wis. Adm. Code. ... C. Penalties. ... (1) A person will, upon conviction for any violation of this chapter, forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for each offense, together with the costs of prosecution for each violation, and may be ordered to take such action as is necessary to abate the offense within a specified time. (2) The minimum and maximum forfeitures specified in this section are doubled each time that a person is convicted for the same violation of this chapter within any twelve-month period.
Full Breakdown
Grant County's numeric decibel limit sits in Chapter 270, the Grant County Wind Energy System Siting Ordinance, adopted by the Board of Supervisors 11-13-2018 as Ord. No. 70. It applies to all lands in the County outside incorporated cities and villages and is administered by the Conservation, Sanitation and Zoning Department. Section 270-4C(1)(a) provides that noise from the operation of a small wind energy system may not exceed 50 dB(A) during the daytime hours and 45 dB(A) during the nighttime hours. The measuring point is the outside wall of a nonparticipating residence or occupied community building that existed when the owner gave notice under § PSC 128.105(1), Wis. Adm. Code, or for which complete publicly available plans for construction were on file with a political subdivision within 30 days of that notice. A small system is one with total installed nameplate capacity of 300 kilowatts or less and individual turbines of not more than 100 kilowatts (§ 270-2).
Waiver. The owner of an adjacent nonparticipating residence or adjacent occupied community building can relieve the system owner of the noise limits by written contract as provided in § PSC 128.14(5) and (6) (§ 270-4C(1)(b)).
Complaints. For small and large systems alike, if the owner receives a complaint of a violation of the noise standards in § PSC 128.14 and has not given the County results of an accurate test conducted within two years of the complaint showing compliance at that location, the owner must promptly conduct a noise study using the current measurement protocol in § PSC 128.50(2). For large systems, Chapter 270 points to the state standards in § PSC 128.14 rather than printing its own dB(A) figures. A person whose complaint to the owner is unresolved after 45 days can petition the County for review under § 270-12.
Other noise provisions. Section 236-4D(11) has the Conditional Use Permit review for a small solar facility keep operational noise at the property lines at no greater than industry standards outlined by the Public Service Commission, with relocation of equipment, noise cancellation, sound shielding, sound filtering and barrier walls as listed measures. Section 268-3G requires ATVs and UTVs on designated County routes to meet all applicable Wisconsin State noise pollution standards.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Chapter 270 is unlawful. Conviction means a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 per offense plus prosecution costs, and the court can order abatement within a specified time. Both limits double for each further conviction for the same violation within any twelve-month period, and each day is a separate offense. The Department can issue a notice of noncompliance, revoke a permit for substantial noncompliance or issue a citation directly (§ 270-13).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the noise limit for a small wind turbine in unincorporated Grant County?
Can a neighbor agree to a louder turbine?
What happens after a noise complaint?
Are there decibel limits for solar equipment or ATVs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grant County
Compare Grant County to another location·View the Wisconsin noise ordinances overview
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