Section:
9.38.010 Declaration of policy.
9.38.015 Application and enforcement of chapter.
9.38.020 Definitions.
9.38.030 Residential property noise limits.
9.38.040 Commercial and industrial property noise limits.
9.38.050 Public property noise limits.
9.38.052 General noise regulations.
9.38.054 Violation - Residential property limits, public property limits, or general noise regulations.
9.38.056 Noise from vehicles and bicycles.
9.38.060 Categorical exemptions.
9.38.070 Exemptions authorized by permit - Immediate compliance impractical or unreasonable.
9.38.080 Exemptions authorized by permit - Special events on public property with noise produced by mechanical or amplifying equipment.
9.38.090 Appeal.
9.38.100 Enforcement.
9.38.130 Violations - Penalties.
9.38.140 Violations - Additional remedies - Injunction.
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the city that the peace, health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Chico require protection from excessive, unnecessary and unreasonable noises from any and all sources in the community. It is the intention of the city council to regulate and control the adverse effect of such noises on citizens under any conditions of use, especially those conditions of use which have the most severe impact upon the auditory senses of any person.
(Prior code §28.1 (Ord. 1106 (part)))
A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to noises from any and all sources in the city except for noises originating from a city park or playground as defined in Chapter 12.04 of this code which shall be regulated in the manner provided for by the park rules and regulations adopted in Chapter 12R.04 of this code.
B. The provisions of this chapter may be enforced without receipt of a citizen complaint. This chapter allows for different methods of enforcement. The appropriate method of enforcement shall be determined by the enforcement officer.
(Ord. 1961; Ord. 2195, Ord. 2414, Ord. 2472 §2)
As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases have the meanings set forth in this section, unless the context in which any such word or phrase is used clearly requires another meaning:
A. Bicycle. “Bicycle” means a device upon which any person may ride, propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears, and having one or more wheels.
B. dB. “dB” means decibel as herein defined.
C. dBA. “dBA” means decibels measures on an A-weighted scale, as herein defined in the subsection entitled “Noise level.”
D. Decibel. “Decibel” or “dB” means a unit measure of sound (noise) level relative to a standard reference sound on a logarithmic scale. The decibel level of a given sound is determined as twenty times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure in micronewtons per square meter of the sound being measured to the standard reference sound pressure of 20 micronewtons per square meter (0.0002 microbar).
E. Emergency response activities. “Emergency response activities” means activities necessary to restore, preserve, protect or save lives or property from imminent danger of loss or harm.
F. Highway. “Highway” means a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. Highway includes street.
G. Noise level. “Noise level” means the level of noise measured in decibels on the A-weighted scale with a sound level meter satisfying at least the applicable requirements for Type 1 or Type 2 sound-level-meters as defined in the most recent American National Standard Specifications. The meter shall be set for slow response speed, except that for impulse noises or rapidly varying sound levels, fast response speed may be used.
For outside measurements the microphone shall not be less than four feet above the ground, at least four and one-half feet distant from walls or similar large reflecting surfaces, and shall be protected from the effects of wind noises and other extraneous sounds by the use of screens, shields or other appropriate devices; for inside measurements, the microphone shall be at least three feet distant from any wall, and the average measurement of at least three microphone positions throughout the room shall be determined.
H. Noise, Unreasonable. “Unreasonable noise” means noise produced by human voice, machine, animal, or device, or any combination thereof, that is so loud, unnecessary, excessive, or unusual that it unreasonably disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood, unreasonably impinges upon the quiet enjoyment of property, or unreasonably causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitivity residing or working in the area.
I. Property Plane. “Property plane” means a vertical plane including the property line which determines the property boundaries in space.
J. Vehicle. “Vehicle” means a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
(Prior code §28.2 (Ord. 1106 (part); Ord. 2195, Ord. 2414)
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