St. Joseph County, IN Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential neighbor limit
- 60/70 dB daytime, 55/65 dB nighttime (A/C weighted Leq)
- Industrial neighbor limit
- 79/89 dB day and night
- Measurement period
- Leq over 15 minutes at the nearest industrial boundary point
- Daytime hours
- 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Fines
- $500 per day second offense, $1,000 per day third and later
- Complaint standing
- Adjoining owners, plus owners within 500 feet
- Appeal window
- 30 days to the county board of zoning appeals
Summary
St. Joseph County sets hard decibel caps on industrial property, measured at the industrial boundary closest to a complainant. The limit depends on the neighboring zoning district, from 60/70 dB daytime next to residential land to 79/89 dB next to other industrial land, in A-weighted and C-weighted Leq over 15 minutes. Fines reach $1,000 per day, enforced by the Infrastructure, Planning, and Growth department.
Sound levels within an industrial zone shall be measured and enforced as follows: (A) With an ANSI/ASA S1.4 compliant Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meter capable of measuring both the A-weighting filter network and C-weighting filter network. ... (C) Measurements shall be taken at least once at the point on the industrial property boundary line closest to the complainant's property, to achieve a Leq reading over a 15-minute period. ... (3) Daytime is defined as 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Nighttime is defined as 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. ... Adjacent Zoning District Maximum Leq Daytime (A-Weighting / C-Weighting) Maximum Leq Nighttime (A-Weighting / C-Weighting) Residential 60/70 55/65 Office 65/75 60/70 Business 65/75 60/70 Commercial 65/75 60/70 University 65/75 60/70 PUD/Mixed Use 60/70 55/65 Industrial 79/89 79/89 Agricultural 75/85 65/75 Agricultural with Residential Land Use 65/75 60/70 ... (a) First violation: Warning notice with 30-day cure period. (b) Second violation within 12 months: Fine of $500.00 per day of violation. (c) Third and subsequent violations within 12 months: Fine of $1,000.00 per day of violation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
Section 130.03 applies to sound from industrial zoned property. Each limit is a maximum Leq, the average sound pressure level over a set period, and it is stated twice: an A-weighted figure and a C-weighted figure. Daytime runs 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and nighttime runs 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The cap is set by the adjacent zoning district, which is fixed when a construction permit is filed for industrial development, including later permits for improvements. Next to residential land the limits are 60/70 daytime and 55/65 nighttime. Office, business, commercial and university neighbors get 65/75 daytime and 60/70 nighttime. PUD/Mixed Use matches residential at 60/70 and 55/65. Industrial neighbors get 79/89 around the clock. Agricultural is 75/85 daytime and 65/75 nighttime, and agricultural land with a residential use is 65/75 and 60/70. Where two districts abut, including across a right-of-way under 150 feet wide, the more restrictive limit governs the shared boundary. No measurements are required along a limited-access highway or any right-of-way 150 feet wide or wider.
Measurement rules are specific. The county uses an ANSI/ASA S1.4 compliant Type 1 or Type 2 meter that reads both weighting networks, calibrated with an acoustic calibrator before and after each session. Readings are taken at the point on the industrial boundary closest to the complainant for a 15-minute Leq, and never during precipitation, sustained wind above ten miles per hour, or heavy vehicle traffic.
The process starts with a written complaint to the Infrastructure, Planning, and Growth department. Owners sharing a boundary with the industrial parcel, or separated only by a right-of-way under 150 feet wide, and owners within 500 feet in an affected district have standing. If the county's initial assessment confirms an exceedance, it retains a qualified acoustical consultant, unless the overage is under two dB, tied to weather or traffic, and a second county check within 48 hours finds compliance. Section 130.04 exempts agricultural sounds, emergency alerts, school activities, park events and airport operations.
Violations & Fines
The first violation draws a warning notice with a 30-day cure period. A second violation within 12 months carries a fine of $500.00 per day, and a third or later violation within 12 months carries $1,000.00 per day. Each day a violation continues counts separately. The owner must fix the problem within 30 days through operational changes, or file a consultant-prepared mitigation plan within 60 days. The county can also seek an injunction in St. Joseph County Superior Court, and the industrial owner reimburses assessment costs within 60 days after a confirmed violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nighttime noise limit next to a home?
Who can file a noise complaint under Section 130.03?
Can I file again after the county finds no violation?
Can a neighbor agree to a louder limit?
Are older industrial operations covered by these limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Joseph County
Compare St. Joseph County to another location·View the Indiana noise ordinances overview
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