Arcata Municipal Code Art. 2 General Noise Standards and Regulations

A. No person shall make, cause, suffer or permit to be made any noises or sounds at any location within the Downtown Plaza area which causes the average sound level when measured on any other property to exceed:

1. 60 dBA between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or 65 dBA between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. for a cumulative period of more than 10 minutes in any hour; or

2. the standard expressed in item 1 above plus five dB for a cumulative period of five minutes in any hour; or

3. the standard expressed in item 1 above plus 15 dB for any period of time; or

4. the ambient noise level, for a period of five or more minutes.

B. If the measured ambient noise level exceeds that permissible within any of the first three noise limit categories above, the allowable noise exposure standard shall be the ambient noise level.

C. If possible, the ambient noise level shall be measured at a location along the real property boundary on the property adjoining the parcel which is the location of the alleged offending noise source. If the intruding noise source is continuous and cannot be reasonably discontinued or stopped for a time period whereby the ambient noise level can be measured, the ambient noise level shall be determined by traveling away from the noise source to a point where a steady state decibel reading is achieved. If this test is not possible, the noise level shall be compared directly to the noise level standards in section A above.

D. Adjustment for character of sound. In the event the alleged offensive noise, as judged by the noise control officer, contains a steady, pure tone such as a whine, screech, or hum, or is an impulsive sound such as hammering or riveting, or is repetitive or rhythmic in character, the standards set forth in section A above shall be reduced by five dB.

A. Notwithstanding the standards set forth in Section 4320, no persons shall make, cause, suffer or permit to be made any offensive or unreasonably disturbing noise which disturbs any person within hearing distance of such noise.

B. Offensive noise means any noise which is loud, boisterous, irritating, penetrating, repetitive, rhythmic or unusual, or that is unreasonably distracting in any other manner, such that it is likely to disturb people of ordinary sensitivity in the vicinity of such noise.

The provisions of this Article shall not apply to the following:

1. The emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of an emergency or in the performance of emergency work;

2. The emission of sound from warning devices necessary for the protection of public safety, as for example, police, fire and ambulance sirens, and the testing of such devices;

3. Those short-term construction activities which are conducted in a reasonable manner and employing appropriate measures intended to prevent or reduce unnecessary noise impacts to adjoining properties;

4. Delivery vehicles making deliveries to businesses located within the Downtown Plaza area between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

5. Activities authorized by or consistent with a Conditional Use Permit previously approved by the City and which includes standards for noise.