Port Hueneme Municipal Code Div. 2 Designated Noise Zones

Receiving properties are assigned to Designated Noise Zones as follows:

(a) Designated Noise Zone I: Noise Sensitive Properties.

(b) Designated Noise Zone II: Residential Properties.

(c) Designated Noise Zone III: Commercial Properties.

(d) Designated Noise Zone IV: Industrial Properties.

The following Exterior Noise Levels, unless otherwise specifically indicated, shall apply to all receiving properties within a Designated Noise Zone for the purpose of establishing Noise Level Limits in Section 3431 below:

Unless otherwise provided in this Article, 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 when measured on any receiving property to exceed the following Noise Level Limits or more restrictive standards established elsewhere in this Code:

(a) The Exterior Noise Levels for that land use, as specified in Section 3430 above, for a total period of more than thirty minutes in any consecutive sixty minutes; or

(b) The Exterior Noise Levels plus 5 dB for a total period of more than fifteen minutes in any consecutive sixty minutes; or

(c) The Exterior Noise Levels plus 10 dB for a total period of more than five minutes in any consecutive sixty minutes; or

(d) The Exterior Noise Levels plus 15 Db for a total period of more than one minute in any consecutive sixty minutes; or

(e) The Exterior Noise Levels plus 20 dB for any period of time.

If the ambient noise level exceeds that permissible for any of the Noise Level Limits, the Noise Level Limit shall be increased in 5 dB increments as appropriate to encompass or reflect said ambient noise level.

If the measurement location is on a boundary between two different Designated Noise Zones, the lower Noise Level Limit applicable to the two zones shall apply.

In the event the intrusive noise is judged by the Enforcing Officer to contain a steady, audible, pure tone such as a whine, screech, or hum, or is an impulsive noise, or is a repetitive noise exceeding one second in duration or contains music or speech, the Noise Level Limits set forth in Section 3431 above shall be reduced by 5 dB.

(a) Use of "A" Weighted Sound Level. Any sound levels measured pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall be "A" weighted sound levels, measured with a sound level meter using the "A" weighting and slow response, except for impulsive noise, for which the fast response shall be used. The microphone shall be located four to five feet above the ground and ten feet or more from the nearest reflective surface.

(b) Calibration Prior to Measurement. Calibration of the measurement equipment, utilizing an acoustic calibrator, shall be performed prior to making any noise measurements.