Bishop Municipal Code Ch. 8.12 Noise Control

It is unlawful for any person to make or continue, or cause to be made or continued, within the limits of the city any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise, which injures or endangers the health, peace or safety of others; provided, however, that this chapter will not in any way affect, restrict or prohibit any of the activities incidental to construction or repairing being conducted after the hour of 7:00 a.m. or before the hour of 10:00 p.m.

(Prior Code, § 12A-1; Code 1985, § 8.12.010)

The following acts, among others, are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises in violation of this chapter, but the enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive:

A. Horns, signaling devices. The sounding of any horn or signaling device on any automobile or motorcycle, streetcar or other vehicle on any street or public place in the city, except as a danger warning; the creation by means of such signaling device of any unreasonable, loud or harsh sound, and the sounding of any device for an unnecessary period of time.

B. Radios, phonographs. The playing, using or operating, or permitting to be played, used or operated, of any radio, receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the production or reproduction of sound in such a manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants, or at any time with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing for the person or persons who are in the room, vehicle or chamber in which the machine or device is operated, and who are voluntary listeners thereto. The operation of any such set, instrument, phonograph, machine or device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance 50 feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which it is located, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.

C. Loudspeakers, amplifiers for advertising. The playing, using or operating, or permitting to be played, used or operated, of any radio, receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, loudspeaker, sound amplifier or other machine or device for the production or reproduction of sound, which is cast upon the street for the purpose of commercial advertising, or attracting the attention of the public to any building or structure.

D. Yelling or shouting. Loud or raucous yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing in the public streets, particularly between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office or in any dwelling, motel or other type of residence, or of any person in the vicinity.

E. Animals and birds. The keeping of any animal or bird which by causing frequent or long continuous noise shall disturb the comfort or repose of any persons in the vicinity.

F. Idling of diesel trucks or buses. The continued idling of any diesel truck or bus in such a location as to disturb the comfort or repose of persons in any dwelling, motel or other type of residence.

G. Parking lot sweepers. The use of parking lot cleaning equipment in areas of such a proximity to dwellings or motels so as to cause noises within such dwelling units or motels which would disturb the comfort or repose of persons therein before the hour of 7:00 a.m.

H. Garbage trucks. The collection of garbage in close proximity to dwellings or motels before the hour of 6:30 a.m. in such a manner as to cause loud and raucous noises and disturb the repose of persons in dwellings or motels.

I. Exhausts. The discharge into the open air of the exhaust of internal combustion engine or motor vehicle except through a muffler or other device which will effectively prevent loud or explosive noises therefrom.

J. Schools, courts, churches, and hospitals. The creation of any excessive noise on any street adjacent to any school, institution of learning, church, or court while the same are in use, or adjacent to any hospital, which unreasonably interferes with the workings of such institutions, or which disturbs or unduly annoys patients in the hospital, provided conspicuous signs are displayed in such streets indicating that the same is a school, hospital or court street.

K. Hawkers, peddlers. The shouting and crying of peddlers, hawkers and vendors which disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood.

L. Drums. The use of any drum or other instrument or device for the purpose of attracting attention by creation of noise to any performance, show or sale.

M. Blowers. The operation of any noise-creating blower or power fan or any internal combustion engine, the operating gases or fluids, unless the noise from such blower or fan is muffled and such engine is equipped with a muffler device sufficient to deaden such noise.

N. Motor vehicle noises. Any excessive, unusual, loud or disturbing noise made by any motor vehicle and not reasonably necessary in its operation under the circumstances and shall include, but not be limited to, noise caused by screeching of tires, racing or accelerating the engine, backfiring the engine and exhaust from the engine tailpipe or muffler.

(Prior Code, § 12A-2; Code 1985, § 8.12.020)