(a) Intent. Development or use of land in the City of Fremont should not produce disruptive or objectionable noise on a regular or periodic basis.
(b) Standards:
(1) Noise, which is objectionable, as determined by the Zoning Inspector, due to volume, frequency or beat shall be muffled or otherwise controlled. In determining whether a noise is objectionable, consideration shall be given to the extent of the noise, frequency of occurrence, time of day, adjacent land uses and the technology available to control the noise.
(2) The maximum permissible sound pressure level of any continuous, regular or frequent source of sound produced by any activity regulated by this Zoning Ordinance shall be established by the time period and type of land use district listed below.
(3) Sound from any source controlled by this Zoning Ordinance shall not exceed the following limits at the property line of said source.
A. Where the emitting and receiving premises are in different zones, the limits governing the stricter zone shall apply to any regulated noise entering that zone.
B. The levels specified below may be exceeded by 10 dB(A) for a single period, no longer than 15 minutes in any one day.
Use Occupancy Category | Time | Sound Level Limit dB(A) |
Residential | 7 a.m. . 10 p.m. | 50 |
10 p.m. . 6 a.m. | 45 | |
Commercial, Business, Institutional | 7 a.m. . 10 p.m. | 65 |
10 p.m. . 6 a.m. | 55 | |
Manufacturing, Industrial, Agricultural | At all times | 75 |
(c) Measurement. Sound pressure levels shall be measured using a sound level meter at a height of at least four (4) feet above the ground surface from a lot line or right-of-way line.
(d) Exclusions. This Section shall not apply to agricultural operations utilizing equipment with normal silencing devices, home lawn maintenance machines and snow blowers that meet their respective product requirements, the emission of sound for the purposes of alerting persons of an emergency or emergency vehicle, construction or demolition activity, and the emission of sound in the performance of emergency work.
(Ord. 2020-4053. Passed 1-7-21.)