The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Amplified sound means any sound or noise, including the human voice, that is increased in volume or intensity by means of mechanical and/or electrical power.
Construction means the erection, repair, assembly, alteration, landscaping, or demolition of any building or building site.
Decibel (dB) means a unit for describing the amplitude of sound, equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is 20 micronewtons per square meter.
Motorized vehicle means any vehicle, as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(49), including, but not limited to:
(1) Excursion passenger vehicles as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)e.
(2) Common carriers of passengers as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)d.
(3) Motorcycles and mopeds as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)h and j.
(4) Truck tractors as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(48).
(5) Farm tractors as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(11).
Noise disturbance means any sound or noise which:
(1) Endangers or injures the health or safety of humans or animals;
(2) Endangers or injures personal or real property; or
(3) Disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivity or interferes with normal human activity.
Except as otherwise provided herein, a sound will be considered a noise disturbance if it exceeds the decibel level thresholds established by zoning district and time of day.
Person means any individual, association, firm, partnership, corporation, or business entity.
Sound means any disturbance of the air or other medium that is detectable by the unaided human ear or which produces vibrations detectable by reasonable persons of normal sensitivity.
Sound level meter means an ANSI standard S1.4 Type 0, I or II class instrument which includes a microphone, amplifier, RMS detector, integrator or time average (LEQ as defined below), output meter, and weighting network used to measure sound pressure levels.
(Code 1989, § 84A.02)