(a) Purpose; General Prohibition. In order to preserve and protect the public peace, health and safety, no person shall make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others within the City.
(b) Specific Noises Prohibited. Each of the following acts is hereby declared to be unlawful and is prohibited, but this enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive:
(1) Horns and signal devices. The sounding of any horn or signal device on any automobile, motorcycle, bus or other vehicle while not in motion, except as a danger signal if another vehicle is approaching apparently out of control, or if in motion only as a danger signal after or as brakes are being applied and deceleration of the vehicle is intended; the creation by means of any such signal device of any unreasonably loud or harsh sound; and the sounding of such device for an unnecessary and unreasonable period of time;
(2) Radios and musical instruments. The playing of any television set, radio, phonograph or any musical instrument in such a manner or with such volume, particularly during the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office or in any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, or of any person in the vicinity;
(3) Shouting and whistling. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing or the making of any loud noise on the public streets between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, or the making of any such noise at any time so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office or in any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, or of any person in the vicinity;
(4) Hawking. The hawking of goods, merchandise or newspapers in a loud and boisterous manner;
(5) Animal and bird noises. The keeping of any animal or bird which, by causing frequent or long continued noise, disturbs the comfort or repose of any person in the neighborhood;
(6) Whistles and sirens. The blowing of any whistle or siren, except to give notice of the time to begin or stop work or as a warning of fire or danger;
(7) Engine exhausts. The discharge into the open air of the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine, motorcycle, watercraft, boats or motor vehicle, except through a muffler or other device which effectively prevents loud or explosive noises therefrom;
(8) Construction noises. The erection (including excavating), demolition, alteration or repair of any building, or the excavation of streets and highways, other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., unless a permit is first obtained from the Department of Public Works;
(9) Handling merchandise. The creation of a loud and excessive noise in connection with the loading or unloading of any vehicle or the opening and destruction of bales, boxes, crates and containers; and
(10) Devices to attract attention. The use of any drum, loudspeaker, amplifier or other instrument or device for the purpose of attracting attention for any purpose.
(c) Exceptions. None of the provisions of subsections (a)and (b)hereof shall apply to or be enforced against:
(1) Emergency vehicles. Any police or fire vehicle of the City or ambulance while engaged in necessary public emergency business;
(2) Highway maintenance and construction. Necessary excavations or repairs of bridges, streets or highways by or on behalf of the City or the State during the night, when the public safety, welfare and convenience render it impossible to perform such work during the day;
(3) Public addresses. The reasonable use of stationary amplifiers or loudspeakers in the course of public addresses which are noncommercial in character;
(4) Christmas music and chimes by permit. The use of stationary amplifiers or loudspeakers by any person for the transmission of Christmas music and chimes when authorized by a permit issued upon the authority of the City Council; all permits so issued shall specify the hours and dates upon which the use of any amplifier or loudspeaker is authorized, and the use thereof shall be limited to the times specified in the permit; and
(5) Amplifiers. The use of amplifiers primarily for the transmission of music when a permit has been granted by authority of the City Commission on a finding that such transmission contributes to the amenities of the commercial area in which it originates and is not audible in any residential area.
(Ord. 907. Passed 8-8-16.)