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Washington County, UT Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Quiet time limit
55 dB at property line, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
Daytime limit
75 dB at property line, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
Duration trigger
Continuous 10 minutes or more
Hybrid violation fine
$2,000 per occurrence after 20 minutes
Enforcing agencies
Community Development, Sheriff's Office, County Attorney
Scope
Applies to licensed short-term rentals only

Summary

Washington County limits noise from licensed short-term rentals to 55 decibels at the property line during quiet time (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) and 75 decibels during daytime (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.), measured over a continuous 10-minute period. Landscape maintenance noise is exempt during the day. Exceeding these thresholds for 20 minutes carries a $2,000 hybrid violation fine under County Ordinance 10-13-23.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Washington County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

1. Quiet Time. Quiet time is defined as after 10:00 p.m. to before 7:00 a.m. Any noise emanating beyond the property line during quiet time for a continuous period of 10 minutes or more is prohibited if the average decibel level at or beyond the property line is 55 dB or more. 2. Daytime. Daytime is defined as 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Any noise emanating beyond the property line during daytime for a continuous period of 10 minutes or more is prohibited if the average decibel level at or beyond the property line is 75 dB or more. The emitted noise from landscape maintenance equipment or maintenance personnel is an exception during daytime if reasonable and necessary to maintain the grounds or the property.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 2026-1329-O, passed 8-18-2026).

Full Breakdown

Washington County Code § 10-13-23(M) sets the county's only codified decibel standard and applies specifically to properties operating under a Short Term Rental (STR) License. , where the threshold rises to 75 dB. The code carves out one exception: noise from landscape maintenance equipment or personnel during daytime hours if reasonable and necessary to maintain the grounds. STR owners, owner-occupants, and local property managers must monitor for excessive noise using devices such as Party Squasher or Noise Aware, retain the resulting data for 90 days, and turn it over to the county within five business days of a request; failing to produce the data is itself a violation.

The same section bars events, parties, and open-invitation gatherings exceeding 40 people or the STR's licensed occupancy limit, whichever is lower. For comparison, the county's separate industrial performance standards at Washington County Code § 10-11-4 cap noise at the property line at 60 dB for Manufacturing-zoned uses and 70 dB for Industrial-zoned uses, muffled so that intermittence, beat frequency, or shrillness does not exceed normal street traffic noise. Outside of STR licensing and the Manufacturing/Industrial performance table, the code does not set a general residential decibel ceiling; ordinary neighbor-to-neighbor noise disputes fall to the county's nuisance and enforcement provisions at § 10-1-11 and § 10-1-12 rather than a numeric limit.

Violations & Fines

Excessive noise under § 10-13-23(M) that continues for 20 minutes or more is a defined hybrid violation carrying a $2,000 fine per occurrence under § 10-13-23(R)(2)(c); unpaid hybrid fines convert into an enforceable violation and a Notice of Fine recorded against the property. Three regulation violations, civil penalties, or criminal citations within five years can trigger STR license denial, non-renewal, or a two-year revocation, enforced by the Community Development Department, the Washington County Sheriff's Office, and the County Attorney's Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Washington County have a general residential noise ordinance with decibel limits?
No. Outside of licensed short-term rentals and the Manufacturing/Industrial performance standards table in § 10-11-4 (60 dB and 70 dB at the property line), the county code does not set a numeric decibel ceiling for ordinary residential noise. Disruptive neighbor noise is instead addressed as a nuisance under § 10-1-11, enforced by the building inspector and public works director rather than a decibel meter.
What decibel level triggers a violation at a short-term rental?
Noise crossing the property line for a continuous 10 minutes or more violates § 10-13-23(M) if it averages 55 dB or higher during quiet time (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) or 75 dB or higher during daytime (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.). Landscape maintenance noise is exempt from the daytime limit.
What happens if an STR exceeds the noise limit?
A continuous violation of 20 minutes or more is a hybrid violation carrying a $2,000 fine under § 10-13-23(R)(2)(c). Unpaid fines trigger a recorded Notice of Fine against the property, and an accumulation of three violations within five years can lead to STR license non-renewal or a two-year revocation.
Are property owners required to monitor noise at their rental?
Yes. Owners, owner-occupants, or local property managers must monitor the STR for excessive noise using tools such as Party Squasher or Noise Aware, keep the data for 90 days, and provide it to the county within five business days of a request. Failing to produce the records is itself a violation under § 10-13-23(M).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington County

All Washington County rules

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