Williams Municipal Code Ch. 9.14 Noise

In order to promote and protect the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Williams, it is necessary to enact regulations prohibiting loud, unnecessary, disturbing and unusual noise that can be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare.

(Ord. 69-91 § 1(part), 1991)

It is unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary, disturbing or unusual sound which either endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals, or annoys or disturbs the comfort, peace or quiet of a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, within the city. The following acts, among others, are declared to be loud, unnecessary, disturbing and unusual noises in violation of this section, but such enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive:

A. The sounding of any horn, siren, bell, whistle or other similar signaling device on any automobile, motorcycle or vehicle except as an emergency or danger warning signal, and the sounding of any such device for any unnecessary and unreasonable period of time.

B. The operation of any musical instrument, radio, phonograph, loud speaker, amplifier, CD player, stereo, tape deck, television or similar sound-amplifying equipment, whether located in a building, vehicle or elsewhere, in such a manner that: (1) it is clearly audible across a real property boundary line or in another dwelling unit in a multifamily dwelling unit structure; (2) it is clearly audible at a distance of fifty feet from the vehicle when the device generating the sound is in, or on a vehicle on a public street or in a public area; or (3) it is clearly audible at a distance of fifty feet from the device generating the sound when the device is in a public park or public area or on a public street or sidewalk.

C. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing upon any public street or public area between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m., or at any other time or place so as to annoy or disturb the comfort, peace or quiet of any other person.

D. The shouting and crying of peddlers, hawkers and vendors which disturb the comfort, peace or quiet of any other person in a residential neighborhood.

E. The erection, excavation, demolition, alteration or repair of any building or structure, or the operation of any construction equipment, within a residential neighborhood or within five hundred feet of a residential neighborhood between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m., in such a manner that it disturbs the comfort, peace or quiet of any other person.

F. The repair, rebuilding or testing of any automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle in any residential neighborhood or within five hundred feet of any residential neighborhood between the hours of ten p.m. and seven a.m., in such a manner that it disturbs the comfort, peace or quiet of any other person.

(Ord. 69-91 § 1(part), 1991)

It is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain, or to permit the keeping and maintaining upon any premises owned, occupied or controlled by such person in the city, any animal, fowl, or bird which by any frequent or long-continued bark, howl, meow, squawk or other sound disturbs the comfort, peace or quiet of any other person. For purposes of this section, "frequent or long-continued" shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, any animal sound which is essentially continuous for ten minutes aggregate during any sixty-minute period.

(Ord. 69-91 § 1(part), 1991)

This chapter shall not apply to the following:

A. The sounding of any horn, siren, bell, whistle or other similar signaling device located upon any authorized emergency vehicle as defined at California Vehicle Code Section 165, or its successor statute;

B. The sounding of any horn, siren, bell, whistle or other similar signaling device located upon any vehicle which is automatically activated by placing the vehicle transmission in reverse or any backing maneuver;

C. Any sound from sound-amplifying equipment in use at any sporting event, parade, fair or other event on a public street or in a public park or other public place, when the event is undertaken or sponsored by the City of Williams Unified School District, or is pursuant to a license, permit or similar authorization issued by the city;

D. Sound generated in connection with solid waste collection activities;

E. The sounding of any horn, siren, bell, whistle or other similar signaling device in connection with any railroad operations regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, and which is in compliance with applicable statutes, regulations and laws;

F. Any animal sound generated from a kennel, veterinary office of animal hospital operating in an area in the city currently zoned for such use, or pursuant to a valid use permit issued by the city.

(Ord. 69-91 § 1(part), 1991)

A. Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of an infraction which shall be punishable by a fine as provided in Section 1.12.030 of this Code. Each person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of any provision of this chapter is committed, continued or permitted by any such person.

B. In addition to any other penalty provided by this Code, any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any provision of this chapter shall be deemed to be a public nuisance and may be abated by the city in accordance with Chapter 8.16 of this Code.

(Ord. 69-91 § 1(part), 1991)