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Salt Lake City Overview
Salt Lake City, UT Code of Ordinances
CITY CODE of SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
ORDINANCES PENDING REVIEW FOR CODIFICATION
TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE 2 ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL
TITLE 3 REVENUE AND FINANCE
TITLE 4 RESERVED
TITLE 5 BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES AND REGULATIONS
TITLE 6 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES1
TITLE 7 RESERVED
TITLE 8 ANIMALS
TITLE 9 HEALTH AND SAFETY
TITLE 10 HUMAN RIGHTS
TITLE 11 PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
TITLE 12 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
TITLE 13 RESERVED
TITLE 14 STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES
TITLE 15 PARKS AND RECREATION
TITLE 16 AIRPORTS
TITLE 17 PUBLIC SERVICES
TITLE 18 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
TITLE 19 GENERAL PLANS
TITLE 20 SUBDIVISIONS
TITLE 21A ZONING
TITLE 22 LOCAL EMERGENCIES
APPENDICES SPECIAL ORDINANCES
Salt Lake City, UT Policies and Procedures Manual
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9.28.020: DEFINITIONS AND STANDARDS:
   A.   All terminology used in this chapter and not defined below shall be interpreted in conformance with applicable American National Standards Institute publications, including, but not limited to, Sl. 1-1960, R 1971, or those from its successor publications or bodies.
   B.   For the purposes of this chapter, certain words and phrases used herein are defined as follows:
   A-WEIGHTED SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL: The sound pressure level as measured with a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The standard notation is "dB(A)" or "dBA".
   AMBIENT SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL: The sound pressure level of the all encompassing noise associated with a given environment, usually a composite of sounds from many sources. It is also the A-weighted sound pressure level exceeded ninety percent (90%) of the time based on a measurement period which shall not be less than ten (10) minutes.
   CONTINUOUS SOUND: Any sound which exists, essentially without interruption, for a period of ten (10) minutes or more.
   CYCLICALLY VARYING NOISE: Any sound which varies in sound level such that the same level is obtained repetitively at reasonably uniform intervals of time.
   DECIBEL: A logarithmic and dimensionless unit of measure often used in describing the amplitude of sound. Decibel is denoted as "dB".
   DEVICE: Any mechanism which is intended to produce, or which actually produces, noise when operated or handled.
   DYNAMIC BRAKING DEVICE (Commonly Referred To As JACOB'S BRAKE): A device used primarily on trucks for the conversions of the engine from an internal combustion engine to an air compressor for the purpose of braking without the use of wheel brakes.
   EMERGENCY VEHICLE: A motor vehicle used in response to a public calamity or to protect persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger.
   EMERGENCY WORK: Work made necessary to restore property to a safe condition following a public calamity, or work required to protect persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger.
   IMPULSIVE NOISE: A noise containing excursions usually less than one second, or sound pressure level using the fast meter characteristic.
   MOTOR VEHICLE: Any vehicle which is self-propelled by mechanical power, including, but not limited to, passenger cars, trucks, truck trailers, semitrailers, campers, motorcycles, minibikes, go-carts, snowmobiles and racing vehicles.
   MUFFLER: An apparatus consisting of a series of chambers or baffle plates designed for the purpose of transmitting gases while reducing sound emanating from such apparatus.
   NINETIETH PERCENTILE NOISE LEVEL: The A-weighted sound pressure level that is exceeded ninety percent (90%) of the time in any measurement period (such as the level that is exceeded for 9 minutes in a 10 minute period) and is denoted "L90".
   NOISE: Any sound which is unwanted or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on human beings.
   NOISE DISTURBANCE: Any sound which annoys or disturbs reasonable persons with normal sensitivities, or which injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, hearing, peace and safety of other persons.
   PERCENTILE SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL: Tenth percentile noise level; the A-weighted sound pressure level that is exceeded ten percent (10%) of the time in any measurement period (such as the level that is exceeded for 1 minute in a 10 minute period) and is denoted "L10".
   PERSON: Any human being, firm, association, organization, partnership, business, trust, corporation, company, contractor, supplier, installer, user, owner or operator, including any municipal corporation or its officers or employees.
   PLAINLY AUDIBLE NOISE: Any noise for which the information content of that noise is unambiguously transferred to the listener, such as, but not limited to, understanding of spoken speech, comprehension of whether a voice is raised or normal, or comprehension of musical rhythms.
   PROPERTY BOUNDARY: An imaginary line exterior to any enclosed structure, at the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one person from that owned by another person.
   PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY: Any street, avenue, boulevard, highway or alley, or similar place, which is owned or controlled by a public governmental entity.
   PURE TONE: Any sound which can be distinctly heard as a single pitch or a set of single pitches. For the purposes of measurement, a pure tone shall exist if the one-third (1/3) octave band sound pressure level in the band with the tone exceeds the arithmetic average of the sound pressure levels of the two (2) contiguous one-third (1/3) octave bands by five (5) dB for frequencies of five hundred (500) Hz and above, by eight (8) dB for frequencies between one hundred sixty (160) and four hundred (400) Hz, and by fifteen (15) dB for frequencies less than or equal to one hundred twenty five (125) Hz.
   REPETITIVE IMPULSIVE NOISE: Any noise which is composed of impulsive noises that are repeated at sufficiently slow rates such that a sound level meter set at the "fast" meter characteristic will show changes in sound pressure level greater than ten (10) dBA.
   SOUND: A temporal and spatial oscillation in pressure, or other physical quantity, in a medium with interval forces that causes compression and rarefaction of that medium, and which propagates at finite speed to distant points.
   SOUND LEVEL METER: An instrument, including a microphone, amplifier, RMS detector and intergrator, time averager, output meter and/or visual display and weighing networks, that is sensitive to pressure fluctuations. The instrument reads sound pressure level when properly calibrated and is of type 2 or better as specified in American National Standards Institute publication SL. 4-1971 or its successor publication.
   SOUND PRESSURE: The instantaneous difference between the actual pressure and the average or barometric pressure at a given point in space due to sound.
   SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL: Twenty (20) times the logarithm to the base-10 of the ratio of the RMS sound pressure to the reference pressure, which shall be twenty (20) micropascals, denoted LP or SPL.
   STATIONARY NOISE SOURCE: Any device, fixed or movable, which is located or used on property other than a public right of way.
   STEADY NOISE: A sound pressure level which remains essentially constant during the period of observation, i.e., does not vary more than six (6) dBA when measured with the "slow" meter characteristic of a sound level meter.
   USE DISTRICT: Those districts established by the city zoning ordinance set out at title 21A of this code, as amended, or its successor title. (Prior code § 18-33-2)
9.28.030: SOUND LEVEL; MEASUREMENT METHOD:
Sound level measurements shall be made with a sound level meter using the A-weighting scale, in accordance with standards promulgated by the American National Standards Institute or other reasonable standards adopted and tested by the Salt Lake Valley health department. (Ord. 1-06 § 30, 2006: prior code § 18-33-5)
9.28.040: NOISES PROHIBITED:
   A.   General Prohibitions: In addition to the specific prohibitions outlined in subsection B of this section and section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or their successor sections, it is unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause to be made or continued any noise disturbance within the limits of the city.
   B.   Specific Prohibitions: The following acts are declared to be in violation of this chapter:
      1.   Horns And Signaling Devices: Sounding of any horn or signaling device on any truck, automobile, motorcycle, emergency vehicle or other vehicle on any street or public place within the city, except as a danger warning signal as provided in the vehicle code of the state of Utah, or the sounding of any such signaling device for an unnecessary or unreasonable period of time;
      2.   Radios, Television Sets, Musical Instruments And Similar Devices:
         a.   Using, operating or permitting the use or operation of any radio receiving set, musical instrument, television, phonograph, drum or other machine or device for the production or reproduction of sound, except as provided for in subsection B3 of this section, in such a manner as to violate section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, or cause a noise disturbance,
         b.   The operating of any such device between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. the following day or, between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. when the following day is a Sunday or legal holiday, in such a manner as to be plainly audible at the property boundary of the source or plainly audible at fifty feet (50') (15 m) from such device when operated within a vehicle parked on a public right of way;
      3.   Public Loudspeakers: Using or operating a loudspeaker or sound amplifying equipment in a fixed or movable position or mounted upon any sound vehicle in or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, park, place, or public property for the purpose of commercial advertising, giving instructions, directions, talks, addresses, lectures, or transmitting music to any persons or assemblages of persons in such a manner as to violate section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, or cause a noise disturbance unless a permit as provided by section 9.28.070 of this chapter, or its successor section, is first obtained;
      4.   Hawkers And Peddlers: Selling anything by outcry within any area of the city zoned primarily for residential uses in such a manner as to violate section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, or cause a noise disturbance. The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to prohibit the selling by outcry of merchandise, food and beverages at licensed sporting events, parades, fairs, circuses and other similarly licensed public entertainment events;
      5.   Animals: Owning, keeping, possessing or harboring any animal (or animals) which, by frequent or habitual noisemaking, violate section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, or causes a noise disturbance. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to all private and public facilities, including any animal pounds, which hold or treat animals;
      6.   Loading Operations: Loading, unloading, opening or otherwise handling boxes, crates, containers, garbage containers or other objects between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. the following day, or between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. when the following day is a Sunday or legal holiday, in such a manner as to violate section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, or cause a noise disturbance;
      7.   Construction Work: Operating, or causing to be used or operated, any equipment used in construction, repair, alteration or demolition work on buildings, structures, streets, alleys, or appurtenances thereto:
         a.   In residential or commercial land use districts between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. the following day, or between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. when the following day is a Sunday or legal holiday,
         b.   In any land use district where such operation exceeds the second level limits for an industrial land use as set forth in section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section;
      8.   Domestic Power Equipment: Operating or permitting to be operated any power equipment rated five (5) horsepower or less used for home or building repair or grounds maintenance, including, but not limited to, power saw, sander, lawnmower, garden equipment or snow removal equipment, in residential or commercial zones:
         a.   Outdoors between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. the following day, or between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. when the following day is a Sunday or legal holiday,
         b.   Any such power equipment which emits a sound pressure level in excess of seventy four (74) dBA measured at a distance of fifty feet (50') (15 m);
      9.   Commercial Power Equipment: Operating or permitting to be operated, any power equipment, except construction equipment used for construction activities, rated more than five (5) horsepower, including, but not limited to, chain saws, pavement breakers, log chippers, powered hand tools:
         a.   In residential or commercial land use districts between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. the following day, or between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. when the following day is a Sunday or legal holiday,
         b.   In any land use district if such equipment emits a sound pressure level in excess of eighty two (82) dBA measured at a distance of fifty feet (50') (15 m);
      10.   Enclosed Places Of Public Entertainment: Operating or permitting to be operated in any place of public entertainment any loudspeaker or other source of sound which produces, at a point that is normally occupied by a customer, maximum sound pressure levels of one hundred (100) dBA, as read with the slow response on a sound level meter, unless a conspicuous and legible sign at least two hundred twenty five (225) square inches in area is posted near each public entrance stating: "WARNING:   SOUND LEVELS MAY CAUSE HEARING IMPAIRMENT". This provision shall not be construed to allow the operation of any loudspeaker or other source of sound in such a manner as to violate section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section;
      11.   Fireworks Or Explosives: The use of explosives or fireworks, or the firing of guns or other explosive devices so as to be audible across a property boundary or on a public space or right of way, without first obtaining a permit as provided by section 9.28.070 of this chapter, or its successor section. This provision shall not be construed to permit conduct prohibited by other statutes, ordinances or regulations governing such activity;
      12.   Racing Events: Permitting any motor vehicle racing event at any place in such a manner as to violate section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, or cause a noise disturbance, without first obtaining a permit as provided by section 9.28.070 of this chapter, or its successor section;
      13.   Powered Model Mechanical Devices: The flying of a model aircraft powered by internal combustion engines, whether tethered or not, or the firing or operating of model rocket vehicles or other similar noise producing devices, between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. the following day, or between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. when the following day is a Sunday or legal holiday, or in such a manner as to violate section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, or cause a noise disturbance;
      14.   Dynamic Braking Devices: Operating any motor vehicle with a dynamic braking device (commonly referred to as "Jacob's brake") engaged, except for the aversion of imminent danger;
      15.   Defect In Vehicle: Operating or permitting to be operated or used any truck, automobile, motorcycle or other motor vehicle which, by virtue of disrepair or manner of operation, violates section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, or causes a noise disturbance;
      16.   Refuse Compacting Vehicles: The operating or causing or permitting to be operated or used any refuse compacting vehicle which creates a sound pressure level in excess of seventy four (74) dBA at fifty feet (50') (15 m) from the vehicle;
      17.   Garbage Collection: The collection of garbage, waste or refuse between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. the following day, or between the hours of nine o'clock (9:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. when the following day is a Sunday or legal holiday:
         a.   In any area zoned residential, or within three hundred feet (300') of an area zoned residential,
         b.   In any land use district so as to cause a noise disturbance;
      18.   Standing Motor Vehicles: The operating or causing or permitting to be operated any motor vehicle or any auxiliary equipment attached thereto in such a manner as to violate section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, or cause a noise disturbance for a consecutive period longer than fifteen (15) minutes during which such vehicle is stationary in a residential zone;
      19.   Quiet Zones: Creating noise in excess of the residential standard, as defined in section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, within the vicinity of any school, hospital, institution of learning, court, or other designated area where exceptional quiet is necessary, while the same is in use, provided conspicuous signs are displayed in the streets indicating that the same is a quiet zone;
      20.   Bells And Alarms: Sounding, operating or permitting to sound or operate an electronically amplified signal from any burglar alarm, bell, chime or clock, including, but not limited to, bells, chimes or clocks in schools, houses of religious worship or governmental buildings, which fails to meet the standards set forth in section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, for more than five (5) minutes in any hour;
      21.   Fixed Sirens, Whistles And Horns: The sounding or causing the sounding of any whistle, horn or siren as a signal for commencing or suspending work, or for any other purpose except as a sound signal of imminent danger, in such a manner as to violate section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, or cause a noise disturbance;
      22.   Recreational Vehicles And Snowmobiles:
         a.   Operating a recreational vehicle or snowmobile in a manner which violates section 9.28.060 of this chapter, or its successor section, or causes a noise disturbance,
         b.   Selling or operating any recreational vehicle or snowmobile, manufactured after 1977, in the city unless such vehicle produces no more than a maximum sound level of eighty two (82) dBA at fifty feet (50') (15 m). (Ord. 66-87 § 1, 1987: prior code § 18-33-3)
9.28.050: EXEMPT USES AND ACTIVITIES:
The following uses and activities shall be exempt from noise level regulations:
   A.   Noise of safety signals, warning devices and emergency pressure relief valves;
   B.   Noise resulting from any authorized emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency call or acting in time of emergency;
   C.   Noise resulting from emergency work, as determined by the director of the Salt Lake Valley board of health or such director's designee;
   D.   Noise resulting from lawful fireworks and noisemakers used for celebration of an official holiday;
   E.   Any noise resulting from activities of temporary duration permitted by law for which a license or permit has been approved by the director of the Salt Lake Valley health department in accordance with section 9.28.070 of this chapter, or its successor section. (Ord. 1-06 § 30, 2006: prior code § 18-33-6)
9.28.060: USE DISTRICTS AND PERMITTED NOISE LEVELS:
   A.   Maximum Permissible Sound Levels: It is a violation of this chapter for any person to operate or permit to be operated any stationary source of sound in such a manner as to create a ninetieth percentile sound pressure level (L90) of any measurement period (which shall not be less than 10 minutes unless otherwise provided in this chapter) which exceeds the limits set forth for the following receiving land use districts, when measured at the boundary or at any point within the property affected by the noise:
 
Weekdays And Saturdays
Use District
9:00 P.M. - 7:00 A.M.
7:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Residential
50 dBA
55 dBA
Commercial-agricultural
55 dBA
60 dBA
Industrial
75 dBA
80 dBA
 
Sundays And Holidays
 
9:00 P.M. - 9:00 A.M.
9:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Residential
50 dBA
55 dBA
Commercial-agricultural
55 dBA
60 dBA
9:00 P.M. - 7:00 A.M.
7:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Industrial
75 dBA
80 dBA
 
When a noise source can be identified and its noise measured in more than one land use category, the limits of the most restrictive use shall apply at the boundaries between different land use categories.
   B.   Correction For Duration Of Sound:
      1.   It is a violation of this chapter for any person to operate, or permit to be operated, any stationary source of sound within any land use district which creates a tenth percentile sound pressure level (L10) of fifteen (15) dBA greater than the levels set forth for the receiving land use districts in subsection A of this section for any measurement period. Such period shall not be less than ten (10) minutes.
      2.   Notwithstanding subsection B1 of this section, it is a violation of this chapter for any person to operate, or permit to be operated, any stationary source of sound within any land use district which creates a tenth percentile sound pressure level (L10) greater than fifteen (15) dBA above the ambient and sound pressure level (L90) of any measurement period. Such period shall not be less than ten (10) minutes.
   C.   Correction For Character Of Sound:
      1.   For any stationary source of sound which emits a pure tone, cyclically varying sound or repetitive impulsive sound, the limits set forth in subsection A of this section shall be reduced by five (5) dBA.
      2.   Notwithstanding compliance with subsection C1 of this section, it is a violation of this chapter for any person to operate or permit to be operated any stationary source of sound which emits a pure tone, cyclically varying or repetitive impulsive sound which creates a noise disturbance. (Prior code § 18-33-4)
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