For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVEL. The sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighted network. The level so read is designated dB(A) or dBA.
ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV). Any motor vehicle designed for off highway use and designed for operator use only with no passengers, having a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator, and handlebars for steering control.
CONSTRUCTION. Any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration, demolition or similar action.
CONTINUOUS SOUND. Denotes a sound the intensity of which remains essentially constant during a given period of time. CONTINUOUS SOUND shall be measured by the slow response setting of a sound level meter.
DAYTIME. Denotes the local time of day between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and local legal holidays.
DBA (DECIBEL-A-WEIGHTED). Sound pressure level as measured on the “A” scale of a sound level meter manufactured in accordance with the specifications of the American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI), Type 2, ANSI-SI.4 (1971), calibrated within two hours of being used for measurement. Unless otherwise noted, measurements shall be made in the slow response mode of the meter.
DECIBEL (dB). A unit of sound pressure, equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure which is 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons per square meter).
EMERGENCY. Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage which demands immediate action.
EMERGENCY SIGNAL DEVICE. Any audible warning device, such as a gong, whistle or siren or any air horn or any similar device.
EMERGENCY WORK. Any work performed for the purpose of preventing or alleviating the physical trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an emergency.
IMPULSIVE SOUND. Sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay. Examples of sources of IMPULSIVE SOUND include explosions, drop forge impacts and the discharge of firearms.
MOBILE SOURCE. Any moving sound source on a public right-of-way.
MOTOR VEHICLE. As defined in the Traffic Regulation Code of the state, or any vehicles which are propelled or drawn by mechanical equipment, such as, but not limited to, passenger cars, trucks, truck-trailers, semitrailers, campers, motorcycles, minibikes, go-carts, snowmobiles, mopeds, amphibious craft on land, dune buggies, all-terrain vehicles or racing vehicles.
MOTORCYCLE. Every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a trailer.
NIGHTTIME. Those hours excluded from the definition of DAYTIME.
NOISE. Any sound which annoys or disturbs humans or which causes or tends to cause adverse psychological effect on humans.
NOISE DISTURBANCE. Any sound which:
(1) Endangers or injures the safety or health of humans or animals;
(2) Annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities;
(3) Endangers or injures personal or real property; or
(4) Exceeds the applicable maximum permissible sound levels as they appear in the table in § 93.05.
NOISE SENSITIVE ZONE. Any area designated for the purpose of ensuring exceptional quiet and shall include schools and churches while the same are in use, any hospital and any nursing home; provided, that conspicuous signs are displayed on the exterior realty of any such school, church, hospital or nursing home which clearly notifies a member of the general public of its use.
PERSON. Any individual, corporation, partnership, firm or any legal successor, representative or agent of the foregoing.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. Any street, avenue, boulevard, highway, alley, sidewalk or public space which has been dedicated for use by the general public and the dedication of which has been accepted by the appropriate governmental entity.
REAL PROPERTY BOUNDARY. An imaginary line along the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one person from that owned by another person, but it does not include intra-building real property division.
SMALL POWER EQUIPMENT. Any motorized or engine powered device, including, but not limited to, lawn mowers lawn and garden tools, riding lawn tractors and power saws, excluding other motor vehicles.
SOUND. Vibratory disturbance (including an oscillation) in the pressure and/or density of liquid or gas or in the particular displacement of solid or liquid. Such disturbance takes place at a rate between approximately 20 and 20,000 hertz (cycles per second); and the physiological perception of such a vibration of displacement.
SOUND AMPLIFYING EQUIPMENT. Any motorized or engine powered device, including, but not limited to, lawn mowers, lawn and garden tools, riding lawn tractors and power saws, excluding other motor vehicles.
SOUND LEVEL. That which is measured with the “A” weighting network on a sound level meter unless otherwise specified.
SOUND LEVEL METER. The instrument, meeting the requirements of ANSE S1.4-1971 Type II rating, used for making sound level measurements.
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL. The intensity in decibels (dB) of a sound.
SOUND PRESSURE. The instantaneous difference between the actual pressure and the average or barometric pressure at a given point in space, as produced by sound energy.
STATIONARY SOURCE. Any sound source operating or occurring on any public or private property, not including a public right-of-way.
WEEKDAY. Any day Monday through Friday which is not a legal holiday.
ZONING DISTRICT. And refers to the scheme of land use classification contained in the zoning regulations.
(Ord. 1-G, passed 3-12-1996)