Salt Lake City Bans Residential Mini-Ramps

mike lewis

September 22 2008
514 views
13 comments

While snow may be starting to fly atop the highest peaks of the Wasatch, its a black time for skaters in Salt Lake. Citing noise complaints in residential areas, the Salt Lake Valley Health Department passed a new ordinance on August 7th that bans mini-ramps, or “sporting ramps” as they go by in government-ese, within 800 feet of any residence. Now you can’t even skate in your own yard in the Bee Hive state’s capital.

The new law is part of the Community Noise Pollution Control Regulation and is defined by SLVHD as follows:

4.5.21. Sporting Ramps. No person shall build or use nor shal any person cause, allow, or permit anyone to build or allow anyone to use any skateboard, roller blade, bicycle, or snowboard ramp or half-pipe or similar configuration within 800 feet of a dwelling, except within facilities that have been designated for such use by government entity.

For more details and to sign an online petition go to slcminiramp.com.

13 Comments For This Post

bill byrne Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm

I wonder how many basketball hoops (driveway, backyard or otherwise) are properly zoned. I’d hazard that a great deal of tool sheds aren’t up to snuff either.

Good luck SLC.

rockwell watches Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 5:57 am

What an sad/embarrassing time to live in SLC… Definitely time to show some quiet protesting on this one.

ThePusher Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:05 am

Noise pollution control??? What a sad state.

If it’s on my own property, what business is it of the government? Noise pollution?? you would think the local gov would be happy skaters aren’t on public grounds to skate!

Give me a freakin’ break.

Loophole Says:
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:24 am

Doesn’t say anything about skating inside the dwelling - looks like a market opportunity for ramps that double as a dwelling…

^^^^ Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 10:46 am

mormans freak me out!

Brian Baade Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 1:04 pm

the masses have been speaking…
?The Salt Lake Valley Health Department board will consider suspending its ban on backyard skate ramps next week, buying time for interested parties to reach a permanent resolution by next spring.?

Next Thursday the Salt Lake Valley Health Department is holding their monthly meeting and the whole ramp debacle will be up for discussion.

They say they have been working on it for two years and there’s been plenty of public notice but no one has spoken up against it. We need to pack the place showing how wrong they are.

Skate Utah will be there dark and early providing coffee and snacks for those down for the cause.

The meeting is Oct. 2 at 7:30 a.m. in Room 2003 of the north building of the County Government Center, 2001 S. State. It’s early but do your best to be prompt, a lot of times they close the doors on the dot

Do it!

Rian Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

I think we can beat this.

http://www.slcminiramp.com/html/OnlinePetition.html

Left Ghost Nut Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 1:51 pm

So does that mean you cannot mow your lawns either? I mean isn’t a lawn mower considered noise pollution? Do you have to push your car down the street? Isn’t that noise pollution? Does that mean all home improvements and home building must stop as well due to the constant clack and pack of hammers and hammer guns? Is that not noise pollution too? Does that mean we have to gag our kids while they play in the front and back yard - aren’t they polluting the air with their voices too? Pretty much what this says to me is you should just not open your mouth, don’t go outside, stay indoors, get fat, play xbox, start doing copious amounts of drugs, and start robbing banks…….what sort of outcome do they think this will have on the kids? Backyard ramps are one of the most positive experiences I can remember growing up……….

SLVHD Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

Health Department Information Update:
The Salt Lake Valley Board of Health meeting scheduled for next Thursday, October 2nd, while open to the public for attendance, is NOT a public hearing. Public comments will be allowed at the official Public Hearing (to be scheduled at a later date). Also, until the health department can gather additional information and meet with all parties involved, there will most likely be a suspension on this portion of the noise regulation (banning skate ramps).
Please feel free to send your comments to the Salt Lake Valley Health Department via email at pdavenport@slco.org. SLVHD will let you know the day and time for Public Comments, as soon as it has been scheduled.

Brian Baade Says:
September 24th, 2008 at 9:28 pm

I was indeed ill informed on the status of the meeting for Thursday, October 2nd - got confused on the public meeting part.

Gary Edwards from the SLVHD does seem genuinely interested in some sort of compromise. Will keep updates on the http://www.skateutah.com website.

Guess that means you can sleep in next week.

Andrew Webber Says:
September 25th, 2008 at 5:20 am

I’m from Canada eh. And there they got no such laws eh. Hear I was thinking that America be the home of the frees. Now you can’t even skate in your own backyard? I would rather see child labour take place.