Port Hueneme Municipal Code Div. 1 General Provisions

In order to control unnecessary, excessive and annoying noises in the City, it is declared to be the policy of the City to prohibit noise which is detrimental to the health and welfare of its residents. It shall be the policy of the City to maintain and preserve the quiet atmosphere of the City, and to implement programs and enact legislation consistent with that policy.

The following words, phrases and terms as used in this Chapter, shall have the meanings as indicated:

(a) "Ambient noise" means the composite of all noise from sources near and far, excluding the alleged intrusive noise source, at the location and approximate time at which a comparison with the alleged offensive noise is to be made.

(b) "A weighted sound level" means the sound level as measured on a sound level meter using the "A" weighting network. The level so read is designated in units of db(A).

(c) "Commercial property" means a parcel of real property which is zoned "C-S" (Special Commercial), "C-1" (General Commercial), or is otherwise used for commercial purposes regardless of the underlying Zoning Regulations.

(d) "Construction" means any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration, or similar action, for or of public or private rights-of-way, structures, utilities or similar property.

(e) "Decibel" means a unit for measuring the amplitude of a sound, equal to twenty times the logarithm to the base of ten of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is twenty micropascals.

(f) "Designated Noise Zone" means a zone consisting of certain real property as shown on that certain noise map, on file with the City Clerk.

(g) "Emergency Work" means work made necessary to protect, provide or restore safe conditions in the community or for the citizenry, or work required to protect persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger, or work by private or public utilities when restoring utility service.

(h) "Fixed noise source" means a stationary device which creates sounds while in a fixed or stationary position, including but not limited to, industrial and commercial machinery and equipment, pumps, fan compressors, generators, air conditioners and refrigeration equipment.

(i) "Impulsive noise" means a sound of short duration, and lasting less than one (1) second, with an abrupt onset and rapid delay.

(j) "Industrial property" means a parcel of real property which is zoned M-1 (Light Industrial), M-PR (Port-Related Industry), or is otherwise used for industrial purposes regardless of the underlying zoning regulations.

(k) "Intrusive noise" means that alleged offensive noise which intrudes over and above the ambient noise for the receiving property.

(l) "Mobile noise source" means any noise source other than a fixed noise source.

(m) "Noise Level Limit" means the maximum noise level acceptable under this Article for the stated time period.

(n) "Noise Sensitive Property" means all permitted and conditional uses allowed within Residential (R) and Park Reserve (PR) Zones as listed in Article X of this Code.

(o) "Person" means any individual, firm, association, partnership, joint venture or corporation.

(p) "Pure tone" means any sound which can be judged as audible as a single frequency or set of single frequencies.

(q) "Receiving property" means the property for which the intrusive noise is alleged to be offensive.

(r) "Residential property" means a parcel of real property which is zoned R-1 (Single Family Residential), R-2 (Limited Multifamily Residential), R-3 (Multiple Family Residential), R-4 (Mixed Use Residential), R-5 (Transitional Residential Coastal-Related Industry) or is otherwise used for residential purposes regardless of the underlying zoning regulations.

(s) "Sound amplifying equipment" means any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music or other sound regardless of location, but shall not include warning devices on authorized emergency vehicle or horns or other warning devices on any vehicles used only for traffic safety purposes.

(t) "Sound level meter" means an instrument for the measurement of sound levels which satisfies the requirements pertinent for sound level meters in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meter, S1.4-1971, or the most recent revision thereof.

(Ord. 626 § 2(27), (28), 1999)