A. Purpose: This section is enacted for the purpose of regulating excessive noise.
B. Prohibited; Exemptions:
1. Generally, it shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause to be made or continued, any excessive, unnecessary or unusual loud noise or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others within Hatch Town limits.
2. Excessive noise is prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause to be made or allow to be made excessive noise on any premises or any public place or public right-of-way.
3. Persons engaged in Municipal activities including public concerts, school related or Town sponsored related promotional activities and lawful parades shall be exempt from the provisions of this section for the duration of the activity.
4. In addition to the above, it is unlawful for any person to: engage in prolonged shouting, yelling, hooting, whistling, singing, or playing of music or musical instruments loud enough to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of persons who are involuntarily subject to such noise.
C. Definitions:
EXCESSIVE NOISE: Is defined as any noise which, due to its volume, duration or location, unreasonably annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others within Town limits, or sound levels exceeding either sixty five (65) dBA or dBC.
NOISE DISTURBANCE: Is defined to include any sound which endangers or injures the health of humans or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities.
D. Time Frame; Permit: A person may not cause noise disturbance in public between ten o'clock (10:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. on weekdays, twelve o'clock (12:00) midnight and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. on weekends. If it is known that a certain activity may extend over the above time frame, a permit must be secured from the Town two (2) weeks prior to the date that the activity occurs. Such permit shall be approved or denied by the Mayor. The Mayor, in granting such special permit, may prescribe any conditions or requirements that are deemed necessary to minimize adverse effects upon the community or surrounding neighborhood.
E. Enforcement: All noise control in this section shall be subject to the direction and control of the County Sheriff's Department. The Sheriff's Department shall be responsible for the administration of these rules and regulations and any other powers vested in it by law and shall make inspections of any premises and issue orders as necessary to effect the purposes of these regulations, and do any and all acts permitted by law that are necessary for the successful enforcement of these regulations.
F. Violation: Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of an infraction. (Ord. 2017-05, 4-19-2017)