Tulsa City Leaders Debate Sound Nuisance Violation Assessments

Proposed changes to city code could set maximum decibel levels over "reasonable person" standard

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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City leaders in Tulsa, Oklahoma are discussing potential changes to the city's code regarding how sound nuisance violations are assessed, prompted by concerns from a local data center contractor. The contractor argued the current "reasonable person standard" could be too subjective and "invoked by an over-zealous code official", suggesting the city instead set a maximum decibel level.

Why it matters

This debate highlights the ongoing challenges cities face in balancing the needs of businesses, like data centers that can generate significant noise, with the quality of life for nearby residents. Setting clear, objective standards for noise violations could provide more predictability, but risks being overly rigid compared to a more subjective "reasonable person" approach.

The details

The discussion was prompted by a local data center contractor who expressed concerns about the city's current "reasonable person standard" for assessing sound nuisance violations. The contractor argued this standard could be too subjective and open to interpretation by "over-zealous code officials". As an alternative, the contractor suggested the city change its code to set a specific maximum decibel level that would be the threshold for violations.

  • The discussion among Tulsa city leaders took place on February 10, 2026.

The players

Tulsa City Leaders

The elected and appointed officials responsible for governing the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Local Data Center Contractor

A business operating a data center facility in Tulsa that raised concerns about the city's current noise violation standards.

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What they’re saying

“We must set clear, objective standards for noise violations instead of relying on the 'reasonable person standard' that could be too subjective.”

— Local Data Center Contractor (spotonoklahoma.com)

What’s next

City leaders indicated they will further review the city's noise ordinance and consider potential changes to the assessment standards in the coming months.

The takeaway

This debate in Tulsa highlights the ongoing tension cities face in regulating noise from businesses while also maintaining quality of life for residents. Finding the right balance between objective standards and subjective assessments will be crucial as cities navigate these issues.