Part 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS

4610. • DECLARATION OF POLICY.

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the City to prohibit unnecessary, excessive, and annoying noises from all sources subject to its police power. At certain levels, noises are detrimental to the health and welfare of the citizenry, and, in the public interests, such noise levels shall be systematically proscribed.

Unless the context otherwise clearly indicates, the words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:

(a)

A-Weighted Sound Pressure Level. "A-Weighted Sound Pressure Level" shall mean the sound pressure level as measured with a sound meter using the A-weighting network. The standard notation is dBA.

(b)

Cyclically Varying Sound. "Cyclically Varying Sound" shall mean and include steady or non-steady sound which varies in amplitude such that the same sound pressure level is obtained repetitively at reasonable uniform intervals of time.

(c)

Day. "Day" shall mean the time period from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

(d)

Decibel. "Decibel" shall mean a unit for measuring the volume of a sound, equal to the logarithm of the ratio of the sound pressure of a standard sound (.0002 microbars). The standard notation is dB.

(e)

Emergency Work. "Emergency Work" shall mean 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 or work by public or private utilities to restore utility service.

(f)

Impulsive Noise. "Impulsive Noise" shall mean and include any noise which is composed of momentary noises that are repeated at sufficiently slow rates, such that a sound level meter set at "fast" meter characteristic will show changes in sound pressure level greater than 10 dBA.

(g)

Night. "Night" shall mean the time period from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

(h)

Person. "Person" shall mean a person, firm, association, copartnership, joint venture, corporation, or any entity, public or private in nature.

(i)

Property Boundary. "Property Boundary" shall mean an imaginary line at the ground surface, which separates the real property owned by one person from that owned by another person and its vertical extension. This shall include condominium units, with the "property boundary" being the wall, floor, or ceiling separating the adjoining condominium units.

(j)

Pure Tone. "Pure Tone" shall mean a sound wave whose instantaneous sound pressure varies essentially as a simple sinesoidal function of time.

(k)

Sound. "Sound" shall mean the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing. For the purpose of this ordinance, the term "sound" and "noise" shall be used synonymously.

(l)

Sound Amplifying Equipment. "Sound Amplifying Equipment" shall mean any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music, or any other sound, but shall not include:

Warning devices or emergency vehicles.

Horns, burglar and fire alarms, or other warning devices expressly authorized by law.

(m)

Sound Level. "Sound Level" shall mean the decibel level of a sound measured by use of the "A" weight scale, and with slow response by a sound level meter.

(n)

Sound Level Meter. "Sound Level Meter" shall mean a measurement instrument containing a microphone, or amplifier, an output meter and "A" frequency weighting networks for the measurement of sound levels, which satisfies the pertinent requirements in American Specifications for Sound Level Meters S-4-971, or the most recent revision thereof.

(o)

Steady Sound. "Steady Sound" shall mean sound for which the sound pressure level remains essentially constant during the period of observation. It does not vary more than six (6) dBA when measured with the "slow" meter characteristics of a sound level meter.

Any sound level measurement made pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance shall be measured with a sound level meter using the A-weighting and response as indicated in Section 4610.1 (n) of this Article.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person within the City of Arcadia to produce or cause or allow to be produced sound or noise which is amplified by the use of sound amplifying equipment and which amplified noise or sound is received on property occupied by another person within the designated region, in excess of the following levels, except as expressly provided otherwise or exempted hereinafter:

At the boundary line between two of the above zones the noise level of the quieter zone shall be used.

(b)

Corrections to Noise Limits. The numerical limits given in Section 4610.3(a) shall be adjusted by the following corrections, where appropriate:

(c)

It shall be unlawful for any person to produce or cause or allow to be produced sound or noise from air- conditioning equipment, pumps, fans or similar machinery which is received on residentially zoned property occupied by another person in excess of 55 dBA, provided, however, that if such machinery was installed prior to December 1, 1970, the noise level shall not be in excess of 60 dBA.

(d)

Exemption: Noise caused by "Emergency Work" as herein defined and from mechanical devices, apparatus, or equipment used, related to, or connected with such Emergency Work is exempt from the limits prescribed by this Chapter.

(Amended by Ord. 1567 adopted 7-20-76; amended by Ord. 2302 adopted 10-2-12)