Hawthorne Municipal Code Art. 1 General Provisions (CA)

§ 9.33.010. Intent.¶

The city of Hawthorne municipal code noise regulations are divided into a subjective portion (Chapter 9.33) and an objective portion (Chapter 9.34). For this subjective portion, the city's noise standards consider the sound level of the noise, ambient noise level, whether or not the nature of the noise is unusual, proximity to residential sleeping areas, time of day (e.g., daytime or nighttime), as well as other considerations cited in Section 9.33.020. In general, this type of regulation is aimed at controlling occasional and infrequent events such as unruly parties, domestic disturbances, and one-time incidents, while giving the city's enforcement officers flexibility in implementing ad hoc quieting measures.

(Ord. 2169 § 1, 2019)

Exceptions & meaning →

§ 9.33.020. Disturbances and nuisances caused by loud, unnecessary, and unusual noise.¶

No person shall make any unnecessary noises or sounds which are physically annoying to persons of ordinary sensitiveness or which are so harsh or so prolonged or unnatural or unusual in their use, time or place as to occasion physical discomfort.

Noise shall be deemed to be offensive to persons of normal sensitivities if it does any of the following:

A.	Causes, or tends to cause, an adverse effect on the public health and welfare.
B.	Endangers or injures people.
C.	Endangers or injures personal or real property.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code and in addition thereto, it shall be unlawful for any person to willfully make or continue, or cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary and unusual noise which disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitivity residing in the area.
The standard which may be considered in determining whether a violation of the provisions of this section exists may include, without limitation, the following:
A.	The level of noise;
B.	Whether the nature of the noise is usual or unusual;
C.	Whether the origin of the noise is natural or unnatural;
D.	The level and intensity of the background noise;
E.	The proximity of the noise to residential sleeping facilities;
F.	The nature and zoning of the area within which the noise emanates;
G.	The density of the inhabitation of the area within which the noise emanates;
H.	The time of the day and night the noise occurs;
I.	The duration of the noise;
J.	Whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent, or constant; and
K.	Whether the noise is produced by a commercial or noncommercial activity.

(Ord. 2169 § 1, 2019)

Exceptions & meaning →