National City Municipal Code Ch. 12.06 Exterior Noise Limits

A. The noise stands presented in Table III of this chapter for various categories of land uses defined in Chapter 18.10 of the city land use code, shall, unless otherwise specifically indicated, apply to each property or portion of property substantially used for a particular type of land use reasonably similar to the land use types shown in Table III. Where two or more dissimilar land uses occur on a single property, the more restrictive noise limits shall apply.

B. Additional land use classifications may be added by resolution of the planning commission to reflect both lower and higher existing ambient levels than those shown.

C. Where doubt exists when making identification of receiving land use, the planning commission may make an interpretation in the manner provided by Section 18. 134.020 of the land use code.

D. No person shall operate or cause to be operated any source of sound at any location within the city' or allow the creation of any noise on property owned, leased, occupied or otherwise controlled by such person, which causes the noise level to exceed the environmental noise level or nuisance noise level, or both, of the applicable limits given in Table Ill of this chapter at any point on or beyond the boundaries of the property on which the sound is produced.

E. 1.

Environmental noise shall be assessed by the A-weighted equivalent sound level (Leq) for any hour (Leq(h)).

2. Nuisance noise shall be assessed as an A-weighted sound level not to be exceeded at any time. Nuisance noise is not subject to hourly averaging as Leq(h). The sound level of an event may be assessed by sound level meters or recording devices, or by other objective methods. However, failure or inability to conduct measurements of the sound level shall not bar enforcement or abatement.

3. Sound levels by receiving land. use shall be measured at the boundary of the property on which the sound is produced (generated) or at any point within the boundary of the property affected.

4. Fixed location public utility distribution or fixed transmission facilities, located on or adjacent to a property line shall be subject to noise level limits of this section measured at or beyond six feet from the boundary of the easement upon which the equipment is located.

(Ord. 2188 § 2, 2001)

A. If the noise is continuous as defined in Section 12.04.120, the Leq for any hour can be represented by any lesser time period within that hour. Noise measurements of a few minutes only will thus suffice to define the noise level.

B. If the noise is intermittent as defined in Section 12.04.320, the Leq for any hour may be represented by a time period typical of the operating cycle. Measurement should be made of a representative number of noisy/quiet periods. A measurement period of not less than fifteen minutes is, however, strongly recommended when dealing with intermittent noise.

C. In the event the alleged offensive noise contains a steady, audible sound such as a whine, screech or hum, or contains a repetitive impulsive noise such as hammering or riveting, or contains music or speech, the standard limits set forth in Table III shall be reduced by five dB.

D. If the measured ambient level exceeds that permissible in Table III, the allowable noise level standard shall be the ambient noise level. The ambient level shall be measured when the alleged noise violation source is not operating.

TABLE III

EXTERIOR ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE LIMITS 1,2, 3

1. Environmental Noise—shall be measured as Leq in any hour (Leq(h)).

2. Nuisance Noise—shall be measured as a decibel level not to be exceeded at any time.

3. Except when other hours are specified in Chapter 12.10.

(Ord. 2188 § 2, 2001)