The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this subchapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, and the definitions shall apply unless the context indicates otherwise or requires a different meaning.
A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVEL. The loudness of a sound measured through a filtering device intended to simulate human hearing. The level is designated DB(A) or DBA.
AMBIENT NOISE LEVEL. The composite of noise from all sources near and far. In this context, the AMBIENT NOISE LEVEL constitutes the normal or existing level of environmental noise at a given location when sound is not being electronically amplified at a location.
COMMERCIAL ZONE. Areas within the city where commercial activities are lawfully being conducted and designated for commercial or business use as established by the city.
CONSTRUCTION ZONE. Any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration, or similar action, but excluding demolition as established for the city.
DEMOLITION. Any dismantling or intentional destruction or removal of structures.
DECIBEL (DB). A unit for measuring the sound pressure level of a sound.
EXCEEDANCE LEVELS L10 AND L1. The A-weighted sound level that exceeds 10% and 1%, respectively, of the specified measurement period.
EMERGENCY. Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or eminent physical trauma or property damage or loss that demands immediate action.
EMERGENCY WORK. Any work performed for the purpose of preventing or alleviating the physical trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an emergency.
FREQUENCY. An objective way to describe the pitch of a sound. The number of periodic oscillations, vibrations, or waves per unit of time (usually one second).
HERTZ (Hz). A unit for measuring the frequency of a sound (sometimes called “cycles per second”). The number of hertz is the number of cycles per second of a periodic sound pressure wave.
INDUSTRIAL ZONE. Areas within the city where industrial activity may lawfully be conducted as established for the city: I-1 or IL, light industrial activity (i.e., resale, banks, offices, auto shops, and the like), I-3 or IH, heavy industrial activity (i.e., factories, foundries, structural steel, heavy salvage or auto wrecking yards, and the like).
INTRUSION NOISE. Noise that intrudes over and above the existing ambient noise at a given location. The relative intrusiveness of a sound depends on its amplitude, duration, frequency, and time of occurrence, and tonal or information content, as well as the prevailing ambient noise level, its amplitude, duration, frequency, and time of occurrence and tonal or information content, as well as the prevailing noise level.
LIGHT MOTOR VEHICLE. Any motorized vehicle with a gross vehicular weight of less than 8,000 pounds, including automobiles, vans, motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, motor scooters,
dune buggies, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, go-karts, minibikes, trail bikes, and light trucks.
MODIFIED EXHAUST SYSTEM. Any exhaust system in which the original noise abatement devices have been removed, altered, or replaced to produce more noise.
NOISE. Any unwanted sound.
NOISE DISTURBANCE. Any sound that endangers or injures the safety and health of humans or animals, disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, or endangers or injures personal or real property.
NOISE-SENSITIVE ZONE. Any area designated pursuant to this subchapter for the purpose of ensuring exceptional quiet. Such zones may include, but are not limited to, schools, hospitals, churches, and courthouses.
OCTAVE BAND. A way to divide the entire frequency range of sound into sections for more accurate measurements. A portion of the entire sound frequency spectrum contained between two frequencies A and B such that A = 28.
PERSON. Any individual, cooperative association, private corporation, personal representative, receiver, trustee, assignee, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, legal entity, or organization of any kind.
PLAINLY AUDIBLE. Any noise for which the information content is unambiguously communicated to the listener, including understandable spoken speech, comprehension of whether a voice is raised (agitated) or normal, or comprehensible musical rhythms.
POWERED MODEL VEHICLE. Any self-propelled airborne, waterborne, or land-borne plane, vessel, or vehicle that is not designated to carry a person, including, but not limited to, any model airplane, boat, car, or rocket.
PUBLIC NUISANCE. Whatever is injurious to health, or indecent, or offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of the property, so as essentially to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of lie or property.
PUBLIC SPACE. Any street, avenue, boulevard, highway, sidewalk, alley, or other premises owned or operated by a governmental entity.
REAL PROPERTY BOUNDARY. The property line around the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one person from that owned by another.
RESIDENTIAL ZONE. Areas within the city where residential uses may lawfully exist as established for the city.
SOUND AMPLIFICATION EQUIPMENT. Any device for the amplification of the human voice, music, instruments, or any other sound associated with mass assemblies.
SOUND LEVEL METER. An instrument designed to measure sound pressure levels.
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL. An objective way to describe the loudness of a sound. SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS mean 20 times the logarithm (base 10) of the ratio of the measured sound pressure to a reference pressure of 20 micropascals. The sound pressure level is expressed in decibels (DB).
Sound Pressure A
SPL = 20 LOG10 --------------------------
Sound Pressure B
Sound Pressure A = Measured sound pressure
Sound Pressure B = Reference sound pressure (20 micropascals)
WEEKDAY. Any Monday through Friday that is not a legal holiday.
(Ord. 5-2022, passed 5-4-2022)