The following words and phrases, whenever used in this Chapter, shall have the meanings defined in this Section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
A. “A-weighted sound level” means the sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using A-weighting network. The level to read is designated db(A) or dB(A).
B. “Ambient noise level” means the all-encompassing noise level associated with a given environment, being a composite of sounds from all sources, excluding any intrusive noise.
C. "Commercial area" means any area occupied by businesses which sell, rent, trade, or store goods, or which provide a service.
D. "Decibel (dB)" means a unit for measuring the amplitude of a sound, equal to twenty (20) times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is twenty (20) micropascals (twenty (20) micronewtons per square meter).
E. "Emergency" means any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent danger, physical trauma or property damage that demands immediate action.
F. "Emergency work" means any work performed for the purpose of preventing or alleviating the danger, physical trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an emergency.
G. "Industrial area" means any area occupied by land uses whose primary operation involves manufacturing, assembling, processing, or otherwise treating raw materials, semifinished products, or finished products, for packaging and distribution to either wholesale or retail markets.
H. "Noise" means any sound which annoys or disturbs humans, or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans.
I. "Noise disturbance" means any sound which (a) endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals, or (b) annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, or (c) endangers or injures personal or real property.
J. "Noise sensitive zone" means any area designated for the purpose of ensuring exceptional quiet, including a school (including nursery school and preschool), church, library, courthouse, daycare facility, while the same is in use, or any hospital, nursing home, or care facility.
K. "Noise source" means a disturbance-causing operation which originates from a single unit or noise generating mechanism which operates simultaneously. Example of a single noise source is the combination of motor, pump, and compressor; or a power plant with several boilers.
L. "Noise zone" means defined areas or regions of a generally consistent land use community wherein the ambient noise levels are generally similar (within a range of five (5) decibels). Typically, most sites within any given noise zone will be of comparable proximity to major noise sources.
M. "Noncommercial purpose" means the use, operation, or maintenance of any sound equipment for other than a commercial purpose, including, but not limited to, philanthropic, political, patriotic and charitable purposes.
N. “Person” means any natural person, partnership, cooperative association, corporation, personal representative, receiver, trustee, assignee, or any other legal entity.
O. "Public right-of-way" means any street, avenue, boulevard, highway, sidewalk or alley or similar place which is owned or controlled by a governmental entity.
P. "Public space" means any real property or structures thereon which are owned or controlled by a governmental entity and normally accessible to the public, including but not limited to parks and other recreation areas.
Q. “Responsible person” means any person who owns, leases, or is lawfully in charge of the property or motor vehicle where the noise violation takes place, or any person who owns or controls the source of the noise or violation. If the responsible person is a minor, then the parent or guardian who has custody of the child at the time of the violation shall be the responsible person who is liable under this chapter.
R. "Sound" means an oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that causes compression and rarefaction of that medium. The description of sound may include any characteristic of such sound, including duration, intensity, and frequency.
S. "Sound amplifying equipment" means any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, or music, or any other sound, excluding standard automobiles when used and heard only by the occupants of the vehicle in which the device is installed and, as used in this Chapter, warning devices on authorized emergency vehicles or horns or other warning devices on any vehicle used only for traffic safety purposes.
T. "Sound level" means the weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound level meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B or C, as specified in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters (ANSI S1.4-1971 or the latest approved revision thereof). If the frequency weighting employed is not indicated, the A-weighting shall apply.
U. "Sound level meter" means an instrument, including a microphone, an amplifier, an output meter, and frequency weighting networks for the measurement of sound levels, which satisfies the requirements pertinent for type S2A meters in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters, S1.4-1971, or the most recent revision thereof.
V. "Vibration" means mechanical motion of the earth or ground, building, or other type of structure, induced by the operation of any mechanical device or equipment located upon or affixed thereto.
[Ord. No. 631, 7/13/22.]