Ogden, UT Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 55 dBA day, 50 dBA night (Table 2)
- Commercial limit
- 65 dBA day, 60 dBA night
- Industrial limit
- 80 dBA day, 75 dBA night
- Public premises limit
- 75 dBA day, 70 dBA night
- Pure tone adjustment
- Table 2 limits reduced by 5 dBA
- Penalty
- Class B misdemeanor, Title 1 Chapter 4
Summary
Ogden caps outdoor sound at fixed decibel levels under Section 12-14-5 whenever the background sound level can't be measured. Residential property lines are capped at 55 dBA daytime (7 A.M. to 10 P.M.) and 50 dBA at night; commercial zones at 65/60 dBA, industrial at 80/75 dBA, and public zones at 75/70 dBA. Pure tones get an added reduction.
No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any sound source in such a manner as to create a sound level that exceeds the background sound level by at least ten (10) dBA during daytime hours (7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.) and by at least five (5) dBA during nighttime hours (10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M.) when measured at or within the property line of the receiving property, except as otherwise provided in subsection B of this section. ... TABLE 2 MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SOUND LEVELS ... Residential 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. 55 dBA 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. 50 dBA Commercial 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. 65 dBA 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. 60 dBA Industrial 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. 80 dBA 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. 75 dBA Public 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. 75 dBA 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. 70 dBA
Full Breakdown
), measured at the property line of the receiving property. When the background level can't be established, the city falls back on Table 2's absolute ceilings: 55 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime at a residential property line, 65/60 dBA in commercial zones, 80/75 dBA in industrial zones, and 75/70 dBA on public premises such as parks. If the noise is a pure tone, all of those Table 2 limits drop by 5 dBA. Nonrepetitive impulsive sounds are capped separately at 90 dBA at a residential property line.
Inside multi-unit buildings, when background level can't be set, the limit for noise crossing from one unit to another is 45 dBA daytime and 35 dBA at night, well below the outdoor residential ceiling. Measurements must follow Section 12-14-4's protocol: no outdoor readings when wind exceeds 15 mph, the sound level meter must sit at least 3 feet above the ground, and both a background reading and a with-source reading are required so the two can be compared under the correction table. Ogden police and mayor-designated enforcement officers can measure and cite a violation under these numbers, and Section 12-14-10 makes a Chapter 14 violation a class B misdemeanor under Title 1, Chapter 4, in addition to nuisance abatement.
Violations & Fines
A sound source that measures above the applicable Table 2 ceiling, or above the relative 10 dBA daytime/5 dBA nighttime threshold, is a class B misdemeanor under Section 12-14-10, carrying penalties set in Title 1, Chapter 4 of the city code. The equipment or activity causing the excess noise is also declared a public nuisance subject to abatement. Ogden police or an officer authorized by the mayor take the readings and issue citations; measurements taken in high wind (over 15 mph) or without a calibrated meter cannot support a violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ogden's residential noise limit at night?
Do Ogden's decibel limits change near businesses?
How does Ogden measure noise to enforce these limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ogden
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