Clearlake Municipal Code § 5-4 Noise

Any individual making a complaint under the following subsections shall furnish his name, address, telephone number, indicate willingness to sign a complaint and to provide such testimony in the appropriate court as may be required. (Ord. #25, A4, S1; Ord. #50)

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep upon any property within the City under his ownership, occupation or control, other than in a lawful animal hospital, kennel or pet store, any animal, which by any noise, unreasonably disturbs the peace, comfort or quiet of any other person within the City. (Ord. #25, A4, S2; Ord. #50)

“Noise level” is defined as the level measured in decibels on the A-weighted scale in the American National Standard 5-1.4-1971 or any duly adopted successor thereto. (Ord. #25, A4, S3; Ord. #50)

a. No person shall produce any noise by any means between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. which when measured within fifty (50') feet of any dwelling or transient accommodation exceeds 55 decibels. “Dwelling” includes apartments, duplexes, mobile homes, and conventional single-family residences. “Transient accommodation” includes hotels, motels, hospitals, travel trailer parks and campgrounds. b. No person shall produce any noise by any means which measures in excess of 65 decibels at a distance within fifty (50') feet of any dwelling or transient accommodation between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. with the following exceptions: 1. Pursuant to permission granted by the Building Official in any case where a building permit has been obtained, or by the City Engineer in any case where public work not requiring a building permit is being performed, construction equipment may be operated during daylight hours which produces noise up to a level of 80 decibels when measured at a distance of one hundred (100') feet from the source. The Building Official and City Engineer may impose a lesser maximum permissible level in any situation where local complaints demonstrate the existence of a problem and where, in the opinion of the official involved, the lesser limit would not impose an unreasonable burden on the work of construction. The preceding noise limit shall not apply to impact tools and equipment if the official is satisfied that the contractor or other builder has taken reasonable steps to control and reduce noise, such as mufflers and acoustically attenuating shields. 2. No vehicle or boat shall be operated off-road within the City limits (standing or moving) within three hundred (300') feet of any dwelling or transient accommodation so as to produce noise in excess of 80 decibels when measured at a distance of fifty (50') feet from the source, or to produce noise in excess of 55 decibels after 10:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m. 3. Any yard tool which produces noise in excess of 80 decibels when measured at a distance of fifty (50') feet from the source (for example, chain saws) may be operated in excess of the limit established by paragraph b. under either of the following circumstances: (a) Noncommercial use by a resident or owner on his own property between 9:00 a.m. and sunset. (b) Commercial use by the holder of a business license issued for brush removal or tree surgery between sunrise and sunset without restriction, provided that the activity is not likely to occur repeatedly at the same site. 4. Any yard tool which produces noise in excess of 70 decibels when measured at a distance of fifty (50') feet from the source (for example, power mowers) may be operated in excess of the limit established by paragraph b. under either of the following circumstances: (a) Noncommercial use by a resident or owner on his own property or commercial use by the holder of a business license issued for landscaping or landscape maintenance: between 7:00 a.m. and sunset. 5. Leaf and debris blowers: may be operated at noise levels in excess of the limits set forth in paragraph b. before 7:00 a.m. only by the holder of a business license issued for landscape or parking lot maintenance provided that the operator has satisfied the City Engineer that he has taken reasonable steps to control and reduce noise. (Ord. #25, A4, S4; Ord. #50)

Former subsection 5-4.5, Amplifiers; Permit Required, previously codified herein and containing portions of Ordinance Nos. 25 and 50 was repealed in its entirety by Ordinance No. 2008-134.

It shall be unlawful for any person to exceed the noise limits established in subsection 5-4.4 above within one hundred fifty (150') feet of any school or church during the regular hours of instruction or worship, respectively. (Ord. #25, A4, S6; Ord. #50)