For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AMPLIFIED SOUND. Sound augmented by any electronic means which increases the sound level or volume.
ANSI. The American National Standards Institute.
COMPLAINT. A specific request for investigation of a suspected violation of this chapter. The complaint may include but is not limited to the following:
(1) The name, address and telephone number of the complainant.
(2) The approximate date and time when the violation occurred.
(3) A brief statement outlining the nature of the violation.
(4) Any indication whether the complainant requested the violator(s) to desist.
(5) If known, the name, address and location where the violation is occurring or has occurred.
COMPLAINANT. Any owner, lessee, manager or person with a legal interest in a receiving property who reports being disturbed by sound heard inside of a residence or place of business upon the receiving property and not originating therefrom.
CONTINUOUS SOURCE OF SOUND. A source of sound, whether constant, variable, intermittent, or impulsive, that continues for a period of time without stopping or interruption.
DBA. The abbreviation designating the unit of sound level as measured by a sound level meter using the A weighting, also known as DBA.
DBC. The abbreviation designating the unit of sound level as measured by a sound level meter using the C weighting. also known as DBC.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. Any Code Enforcement Officer or law enforcement officer.
PERSON. Any individual, corporation, partnership, association or other legal entity or any agent or employee thereof.
PLAINLY AUDIBLE. Able to be clearly heard by a person of normal sensibilities using only unaided auditory senses. PLAINLY AUDIBLE shall refer to a sound heard at a volume level above that of normal conversation and shall not include sounds which are just barely audible. With respect to music, the detection of a rhythmic base reverberating type sound, beat or cadence shall be deemed PLAINLY AUDIBLE.
PROPERTY LINE. An imaginary line along the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned or possessed by a person from that owned or possessed by another person, but not including intra-building real property divisions.
RECEIVING PROPERTY. Any residence or place of business on which uninvited noise is plainly audible.
RESIDENCE. Any occupied room or rooms connected together containing sleeping facilities, including but not limited to single and multiple family homes, townhomes, apartments, condominium units, hotel and motel rooms.
SOUND LEVEL. The weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound level meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B, or C, as specified in ANSI specifications for sound level meters.
SOUND LEVEL METER. Any instrument, including a microphone, amplifier, output meter, and frequency weighting network, for the measurement of noise and sound levels in a specific manner and that complies with standards established by the ANSI specification's for sound level meters.
SOUND SOURCE. The place from which sound emanates, including without limitation, a speaker, loud speaker, or other sound producing instrument or person.
UNREASONABLY LOUD. Uninvited noise shall be deemed UNREASONABLY LOUD if it is plainly audible inside of a receiving property with doors and windows closed, across a property line, and interferes with a person’s peaceful enjoyment of a residence or the peace and tranquility of the surrounding neighborhood.
UNINVITED NOISE. Noise not originating on the receiving property.
(Ord. O-95-35, passed 7-5-95; Am. Ord. O-2018-10, passed 6-6-18; Am. Ord. O-2021-05, passed 4-7- 21)