Chapter 11.15 — NOISE

Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, technical words and phrases used in this Chapter are defined as follows:

(a) Sound Amplifying Equipment. “Sound amplifying equipment” shall mean any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music or any other sound. “Sound amplifying equipment” shall not include standard vehicle radios when used and heard only by the occupants of the vehicle in which the vehicle radio is installed. “Sound amplifying equipment” as used in this Chapter, shall not include warning devices on any vehicle used only for traffic safety purposes and. shall not include communications equipment used by public or private utilities when restoring utility service following a public emergency or when doing work required to protect persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger.

(b) Ambient Noise. “Ambient Noise” shall mean the allencompassing noise associated with a given environment usually being composed of sounds from many sources near and far. For the purpose of this Chapter, the ambient noise level shall be the average over a period necessary to establish an accurate range of noise levels emanating from the noise source without inclusion of noise from isolated identifiable sources, at the location and time of day near that at which a comparison is to be made.

(c) Decibel. “Decibel (dB)” shall mean an intensity unit which denotes the ratio between two quantities which are proportional to power; the number of decibels corresponding to the ratio is ten times the common logarithm of this ratio.

(d) Sound Level. “Sound Level”-- (noise -level) in decibels is the value of a sound measurement using the appropriate weighting network of a sound level meter. Slow response of the sound level meter needle shall be used except where the sound is impulsive or rapidly varying in nature in which case fast response shall be used.

(e) Person. “Person” shall mean a person, firm, association co-partnership, joint venture, corporation, or any entity, public or private in nature.

(f) Sound Level Meter. “Sound Level Meter” shall mean an instrument including a microphone, an amplifier, an output meter, and frequency weighting networks for the measurement of sound levels which satisfies the pertinent requirements in American National Standards Institute's specification S1.4-1971 or the most recent revision thereof for type S-2A general purpose sound level meters.

(g) Supplementary Definitions of Technical Terms. Definitions of technical terms not defined herein shall be obtained from the American National Standards Institute's Acoustical Terminology Si1971 or the most recent revision thereof.

(Ord. 71, passed 3-4-1998)

(a) Unless otherwise provided, outdoor measurements shall be taken with the microphone located at any point on the property line of the noise source, but no closer than five feet from any wall or vertical obstruction and three to five feet above ground level whenever possible.

(b) Unless otherwise provided, indoor measurements shall be taken inside the structure with the microphone located at any point as follows: (1) no less than three feet above floor level; (2) no less than five feet from any wall or vertical obstruction; and (3) not under common possession and control with the building or portion of the building from which the sound is emanating.

(Ord. 71, passed 3-4-1998)

No person shall amplify sound contrary to any of the following:

• (a) The only amplified sound permitted shall be either music or the human voice or both.

(b) Notwithstanding (a) above, the volume of amplified sound shall not exceed the noise levels set forth herein

when measured outdoors at or beyond the property line of the property from which the sound emanates.

(Ord. 71, passed 3-4-1998)

It is unlawful for any person to wilfully make, cause or suffer or permit to be made, or caused, any loud unnecessary noises or sounds which unreasonably disturb the peace and quiet of any residential neighborhood or which are physically annoying to persons of ordinary sensitivity or which are so harsh, prolonged or unnatural or unusual in their use, time or place as to occasion physical discomfort to the

inhabitants of the City, or any number thereof. The Standards for dBA noise level in Section (Sound Amplification) shall apply to this Section. To the extent that the noise created causes the noise level at the property line to exceed the ambient noise level by more than 1.0 decibels, it shall be presumed that the noise being created also is in violation of this Section.

(Ord. 71, passed 3-4-1998)