(A) For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVEL. The sound pressure level of a sound measured through an A-weighting filter network. The level read is designated dB(A) or dBA.
COMMERCIAL ZONE. Zones C-1, C-2 and C-3 as defined in the Town Zoning Ordinance.
DECIBEL. The unit used for comparing the sound pressure level of a sound to the sound pressure level of a reference sound having a sound pressure of 20 micropascals.
FREQUENCY. The number of periodic oscillations, vibrations or waves per unit time (usually one second).
HERTZ or Hz. The unit used for measuring the frequency of a sound. The number of HERTZ is the number of cycles per second of a periodic sound pressure wave.
INDUSTRIAL ZONE. Zones 1-1 and l-2 as defined in the Town Zoning Ordinance.
LIGHT MOTOR VEHICLE. Any motorized vehicle with a gross vehicular weight less than 8,000 pounds, including automobiles, vans, motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, motor scooters, dune buggies, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, go-karts, mini bikes, trail bikes and light trucks.
MODIFIED EXHAUST SYSTEMS. Any exhaust system in which the original noise abatement devices have been removed, altered or replaced to produce more noise.
NOISE. Any sound subject to complaint.
OCTAVE BANK. Means a portion of the entire sound frequency spectrum contained between two frequencies, A and B, such that A = 2B.
PERSON. Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
PLAINLY AUDIBLE. Any noise for which the information content is unambiguously communicated to the listener, including understandable spoken speech, comprehension of whether a voice is raised (agitated) or normal, or comprehensible musical rhythms.
RESIDENTIAL ZONE. Zones R-1, R-2 and R-3 as defined in the Town Zoning Ordinance.
SOUND LEVEL METER. An instrument designed to measure sound pressure levels.
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL. Twenty times the logarithm (base 10) of the ratio of the measured sound pressure to a reference pressure of 20 micropascals. The SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL is expressed in decibels (DB).
SPL = 20 LOG Sound pressure A
10 Sound pressure B
10 Sound pressure B
Sound pressure A = Measured sound pressure
Sound pressure B = Reference sound pressure (20 micropascals)
(B) All other terminology used in this chapter which is not specifically defined shall be in conformance with applicable publications of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or its successor body.
(Prior Code, § 73.01)
No person shall make or cause to be made any noise that unreasonably annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, safety or welfare of any person or precludes his or her enjoyment of property or affects his or her property’s value. This general prohibition is not limited by the specific restrictions listed in the following sections.
(Prior Code, § 73.02) Penalty, see § 95.99
(A) Restrictions generally. The following specific acts are declared to be unlawful:
(1) Radios, televisions, musical instruments, tape or record players, amplifiers and similar devices. Operating or permitting the use or operation of any such devices between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner so as to be plainly audible across property boundaries or through partitions common to two or more persons within a building;
(2) Domestic power tools. Operating or permitting the use or operation of any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, grinder, lawn or garden tool, lawn mower, snow blower or similar device used outdoors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner that will disturb or annoy any reasonable person nearby;
(3) Construction. Operating or permitting the operation of any tools or equipment in construction, drilling or demolition between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner that will disturb or annoy any reasonable person nearby;
(4) Horns, signaling devices. Operating a horn or other audible signaling device on any motor vehicle except in an emergency or when required by law;
(5) Participation in noisy parties or gatherings. Participation in any party or gathering between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. giving rise to noise that is plainly audible across property boundaries or between partitions common to two or more persons within a building;
(6) Animals. Harboring or keeping any animal which is causing frequent or long-continued noise which shall disturb or annoy any reasonable person nearby;
(7) Schools, courts, churches and hospitals. The creation of any excessive noise on any street adjacent to any school, institution of learning, church or court while the same is in use, or adjacent to any hospital, which reasonably interferes with the workings of such institution, or which disturbs or unduly annoys patients in the hospital, provided conspicuous signs are displayed in or near such streets indicating that the same is a school, hospital or court street;
(8) Yelling, shouting and the like. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 10:00 p.m and 7:00 a.m. or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office, or in any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, or of any persons in the vicinity; and
(9) Loudspeakers, amplifiers and the like for advertising or attention-getting. The using, operating or permitting to be played, used or operated any radio, receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, loudspeaker, sound amplifier or other machine or device for the producing of sound which is cast upon the public streets for the purpose of commercial advertising or attracting the attention of the public, or attracting the attention of a singular person.
(Prior Code, § 73.03)
(B) Additional restrictions for burglar alarms. Burglar alarms on light motor vehicles shall only be of the electronic signaling type which transmits a non-audible signal to a receiver which can be carried by the owner or operator of the vehicle.
(Prior Code, § 63.04)
Penalty, see § 95.99
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