As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter, Where terms are not defined under the provisions of this chapter and are defined in the noise regulations of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, they shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in those regulations. Otherwise, they shall have ascribed to them their ordinarily accepted meanings or such meaning as the context herein may imply.
"ANSI." The American National Standards Institute or its successor body. Any ANSI standard referred to in this chapter shall be deemed to incorporate further revisions by reference.
"CONSTRUCTION." Any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration or similar action, but excluding demolition for or of public or private structures, utilities, rights-of-way or similar property.
"DAYTIME HOURS." The hours between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., weekdays and Saturday, and the hours between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.
"EMERGENCY." Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage which demands immediate action.
"EMERGENCY SOUND SIGNAL." An audible electronic or mechanical siren or signal device attached to an authorized emergency vehicle or within or attached to a building pole or other structure for the purpose of sounding or testing an alarm relating to fire or emergency management.
"EMITTER." An individual or entity who is the owner or occupant of the premises from which noise commences.
"EXCESSIVE NOISE." Emitter noise zone levels from noise sources exceeding the standards set forth in § 101.03 beyond the boundary of the emitter's noise zones.
"IMPULSE NOISE." Noise of short duration (generally less than one second), especially of high intensity, abrupt onset and rapid decay, and often rapidly changing spectral composition.
"MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT." All engine or motor-powered garden or maintenance tools intended for repetitive use, including but not limited to lawnmowers, riding tractors, blowers, and including equipment intended for infrequent service work, including but not limited to chain saws, log chippers or paving rollers.
"MOBILE SOURCES OF NOISE." Shall include, but are not limited to such sources as automobiles, trucks and other vehicles used to transport individuals or items along public rights-of-way.
"NIGHTTIME HOURS." The hours between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. weekdays and Saturday, and the hours after 9:00 p.m. and before 8:00 a.m. on Sunday.
"NOISE ZONE." An individual unit of land or a group of contiguous parcels under the same ownership as indicated by public land records and, as relates to noise emitters, includes contiguous publicly-dedicated streets and highway rights-of-way, railroad rights-of-way, water bodies and waters of the state.
"RECEPTOR." An individual or entity who is the owner or occupant of premises affected by or receiving noise.
"SITE." The area bounded by a property line on or in which a source of noise exists.
"SOUND LEVEL METER." An instrument, including a microphone, an amplifier, an output meter, and frequency weighting networks for the measurement of sound levels. The sound level meter shall conform to ANSI Specifications for Sound Level Meters S1.4-1984 (1997).
(Ord. 428, passed 12-4-00)