Burbank Municipal Code Div. 2 Special Noise Sources

A. No person shall keep or maintain upon any premises owned, occupied or controlled by them any animal or fowl which, by any sound, cry or behavior, shall cause discomfort or annoyance to a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness in any residential area.

B. A violation of this section shall constitute an infraction. [Formerly Numbered Section 21-30; Renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87; 2749, 2383.]

A. Decibel Limit: No person shall operate any machinery, equipment, pump, fan, air conditioning apparatus, or similar mechanical device in such a manner as to cause the ambient noise level to be exceeded by more than five (5) decibels. In the case of leaf blowers, as defined by Section 9-3-214 of this article, the ambient noise level may not be exceeded by more than twenty (20) decibels.

B. Ambient Noise Base Level: For the purposes of this section only, all ambient noise measurements shall commence at the following ambient noise base levels in the zones and during the times shown:

Base Levels Time Zone 45 dBA Nighttime Residential 55 dBA Daytime Residential 65 dBA Anytime Commercial 70 dBA Anytime All other zones

Accordingly, and by way of illustration, the ambient noise level in commercial zones shall be deemed to be sixty five (65) dBA notwithstanding a lower reading; provided, however, that when the ambient noise base level for the property on which the machinery, equipment, pump, fan, air conditioning apparatus or similar mechanical device is located is higher than the ambient noise base level for adjacent property, the ambient noise base level for the adjacent property shall apply. Properties separated by a street shall be deemed to be adjacent to one another.

C. Exception For Home Air Conditioners: Air conditioning appliances and equipment installed on or before June 1, 1972, in residences in residential zones may be operated until January 1, 1974, between the hours of eight o’clock (8:00) A.M. and ten o’clock (10:00) P.M. without complying with the decibel limits prescribed in this section. [Formerly Numbered Section 21-31; Renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87; 3122, 2383, 2361.]

[Deleted by Ord. No. 3797, eff. 12/3/10; Formerly Numbered Section 21-32; Renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87; Amended by Ord. 3588, eff. 11/3/01; 2383.]

It is unlawful for any person in a residential zone of the City, or within a radius of five hundred feet (500’) from any residential zone, to repair, rebuild or test any motor vehicle during the nighttime in such manner that a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the zone is caused discomfort or annoyance. [Formerly Numbered Section 21-33; Renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87; 2383.]

No person shall operate any motor driven vehicle within the City in such manner that a reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area where the vehicle is being operated is caused discomfort or annoyance. This section shall apply only if the operation of the vehicle is not regulated by State law. [Formerly Numbered Section 21-34; Renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87; 2383.]

No person having charge or control of any engine in which gas, gasoline, distillate or other similar substance is used as a motive power, shall run or operate such engine without having the exhaust pipe thereof connected with an underground air chamber or having attached to such exhaust pipe a muffler or other device so constructed as to deaden the sound of the exhaust of such engine and effectually prevent such exhaust from making any loud noise or disturbing the peace and quiet of persons in its vicinity. This section shall apply to the engine of a motor vehicle only if its exhaust equipment is not regulated by State law. [Formerly Numbered Section 21-35; Renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87; 2383.]

A. Disturbing Residents: No person shall use or operate any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, television set or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet, and comfort of neighboring residents or any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area.

B. Prima Facie Violation: Any noise causing the ambient noise level to be exceeded by more than five (5) decibels shall be deemed to be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. Noise measurements shall be taken within any adjoining apartment if the radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, television set or other machine or device is in an apartment house, condominium or other multiple dwelling. [Formerly Numbered Section 21-36; Renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87; 2383.]

9-3-213.5: RADIOS, TELEVISION SETS AND SIMILAR DEVICES IN AND ADJACENT TO PARK FACILITIES:

A. Disturbing Residents: No person in a park (including public parking lots) or on a right of way adjacent to a park shall use or operate any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, television set or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound or other sound amplification systems in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet, and comfort of neighboring residents or any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area.

B. Prima Facie Violation: Any person who operates or permits the operation of an outdoor sound amplification device which can be heard seventy five feet (75’) or more away: 1) from the closest boundary of the park, when the source of the noise is within the boundaries of a park; or 2) from the actual source of the noise, when the source is of noise is located in the right of way adjacent to a park; shall be deemed to be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.

C. Exceptions: This prohibition shall not apply to a park permit or other City approval that expressly authorizes the use of outdoor sound amplification devices. [Added by Ord. No. 3642, eff. 7/24/04.]

A. Definitions:

LEAF BLOWER: Any machine however powered used to blow leaves, dirt and other debris off sidewalks, driveways, lawns and other surfaces. This definition shall not apply to gas-powered leaf blowers which are prohibited by BMC 4-1-1001 et. al.

PARCEL: An area of real property with a separate and distinct number or other designation shown on a plat recorded in the office of the County Recorder. Contiguous parcels owned by the same individual or entity shall be considered one parcel for the purposes of this section.

B. Time Restrictions: No person shall operate a leaf blower within a residential zone or within two hundred feet (200’) of a residential zone between the hours of six o’clock (6:00) P.M. to eight o’clock (8:00) A.M.

C. Duration of Use: No person shall operate any leaf blower within a residential zone or within two hundred feet (200’) of a residential zone for more than fifteen (15) minutes per hour on parcels less than one-half (1/2) acre and no more than thirty (30) minutes per hour on parcels greater than one-half (1/2) acre.

D. Number of Leaf Blowers: No person shall operate more than one leaf blower per parcel within any residential zone or within two hundred feet (200’) of a residential zone.

E. Debris Restriction: No person shall operate any leaf blower within the City in such a way as to blow leaves, dirt, and other debris on to adjoining properties and public rights of way and to allow the material to remain there for more than fifteen (15) minutes. [Added by Ord. No. 3122; Formerly Numbered Section 21-37; Renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87; Amended by Ord. No. 25-4,037, eff. 1/16/26; 2383.]