SALT LAKE CITY -- The Salt Lake Valley Health Dept. is hoping to cut down on noise pollution by completely rewriting the noise ordinance.
A public hearing was held Wednesday evening to discuss the proposal for a scientific standard for measuring noise to help quiet Salt Lake County.
The department has a new tool--a noise dosimeter--to help analyze if noise is too loud. Health officers would partner with police throughout Salt Lake County in investigation of noise complaints.
The allowed noise level depends on location and time of day. First offenders will get a warning letter, but repeat offenders could be fined hundreds of dollars.
The re-written ordinance would also include new regulations for commercial operations, including construction activities, amplified sound and music, loading and unloading and garbage removal.
"What the health department's regulation would attempt to do is permit those activities where necessary so that controls are in place to reduce noise levels as much as possible, or those activities are restricted by curfew hours," said Eric Peterson with the Salt Lake Valley Health Dept.
The health department has taken written comments from the public for the last 60 days and the public hearing held Wednesday evening was the last opportunity for residents to speak out about the new plans.
