Lincoln County, SD Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Daytime limit (8am-6pm)
- 60 decibels off property
- Nighttime limit (6pm-8am)
- No detectable noise off property
- Exempt areas
- Public and railroad rights-of-way
- Applies to
- Class 1 major home occupations
- Permit required
- Conditional use permit, Planning Commission
- Maximum penalty
- $500 fine, 30 days jail, per day
Summary
A Class 1 major home occupation in unincorporated Lincoln County, South Dakota cannot create noise exceeding 60 decibels off the property between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. under § 154.244(B)(1)(e), and no noise detectable to normal hearing off the property is allowed between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.
(e) The occupation shall not create noise which, when measured off the property, exceeds 60 decibels between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The occupation shall not create noise which is detectable to the normal sensory perception off the property between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. These off the property noise standards shall not apply to public and railroad rights-of-way.
Full Breakdown
Lincoln County Code § 154.244(B)(1)(e) sets the county's numeric noise standard for Class 1 major home occupations, the conditional-use tier of home-based business authorized under Ordinance 0904-05 (passed May 20, 2009): the occupation shall not create noise which, when measured off the property, exceeds 60 decibels between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and shall not create noise detectable to normal sensory perception off the property between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. The daytime ceiling is an objective 60-decibel measurement taken off the property, while the evening and overnight standard is stricter and subjective: any noise a person can detect off the property between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. is out of compliance, decibel meter or not.
The section exempts public and railroad rights-of-way from these off-property measurements, so noise carrying onto a road or rail corridor does not count against the business. The same subsection also bars vibration, glare, fumes, odor, or electrical interference detectable off the property, so the noise limit is one piece of a broader nuisance standard applied to home-based businesses. Because Class 1 status requires a Planning Commission-issued conditional use permit under § 154.245, a business exceeding the noise limit risks both a zoning violation and revocation or non-renewal of its permit.
The county's other numeric noise figure, 50 dB(A) at the property line for wind energy conversion systems under § 154.241(B)(4), applies only to those turbines, not to home businesses generally.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 60-decibel daytime limit or creating any detectable noise off the property overnight violates § 154.244(B)(1)(e) and is a zoning violation under § 154.999: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day of violation a separate offense, and the Planning Commission may also revisit the occupation's conditional use permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a decibel limit for home businesses in Lincoln County, South Dakota?
Does the noise limit apply to every home business?
Are roads or railroads counted when measuring the noise limit?
What happens if a home business is too loud?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lincoln County
Compare Lincoln County to another location·View the South Dakota noise ordinances overview
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