Redondo Beach Municipal Code Art. 2 Noise Measurement Procedure

Upon the receipt of a complaint from a citizen, the Noise Control Officer or his delegated representative, equipped with sound level measurement equipment, shall investigate the complaint. The investigation, at the discretion of the NCO or his delegated representative, shall consist of a measurement and the gathering of data to adequately define the noise problem and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Non-acoustic data.

(1) The type of the noise source;

(2) The location of the noise source relative to the complainant's property;

(3) The time period during which the noise source is considered by the complainant to be intrusive;

(4) The total duration of the noise produced by the noise source; and

(5) The date and time of the noise measurement survey.

(b) Actual measurement procedures. Utilizing the A-weighting scale of the sound level meter, the noise level shall be measured at a position or positions along the complainant's property line closest to the noise source or at the location along the boundary line where the noise level is at maximum. In general, the microphone shall be located five (5′) feet above the ground, ten (10′) feet or more from the nearest reflective surface where possible. However, in those cases where another elevation is deemed appropriate, the latter shall be utilized. If the noise complaint is related to interior noise levels, interior noise measurements shall be made within the affected residential unit or within the commercial or industrial structure, and the alleged violations shall be plotted against the standards set forth in Article 4 of this chapter. The measurement shall be made at a point at least four (4′) feet from the wall, ceiling, or floor nearest the noise source with the windows in the normal seasonal configuration. The calibration of the instrument being used shall be performed immediately prior to recording any noise data utilizing an acoustic calibrator.

(§ 1, Ord. 2183 c.s., eff. August 11, 1976)