CHAPTER 7
NOISE CONTROL REGULATIONS

SECTION:

7-7-1: Policy

7-7-2: Definitions

7-7-3: Unlawful Sounds

7-7-4: Maximum Permissible Sound Levels

7-7-5: Maximum Nighttime Sound Levels

7-7-6: Public Disturbance Sounds

7-7-7: Measurement Of Sound

7-7-8: Sounds Exempt At All Times

7-7-9: Sounds Exempt During Certain Hours

7-7-10: Variance; Application, Public Hearing Required

7-7-11: Penalty

7-7-1: POLICY:

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the city to minimize the exposure of its citizens to the physiological and psychological dangers of excessive noise and protect, promote and preserve the public health, safety and welfare. It is the express intent of the city council to control the level of noise and sounds in a manner which promotes commerce, the use, value and enjoyment of property, sleep and repose and the quality of the environment. (Ord. 102, 12-13-1982)

7-7-2: DEFINITIONS:

In this chapter the following terms shall mean:

COMMERCIAL DISTRICT: All areas zoned by this code as commercial areas, as shown in section 9-7-6 of this code.

dB(A): The sound level measured in decibels using the A-weighting network.

INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT: All areas zoned by this code as an industrial area, as shown in section 9-7-6 of this code.

MOTOR VEHICLE: Every device in, upon or by which a person or property is or may be transported upon a public roadway and is self-propelled.

MOTORCYCLE: Every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the driver and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, including all types of motorcycles, motor scooters or motorized bicycles having an engine with more than one hundred fifty (150) cubic centimeter's displacement or with five (5) brake horsepower or more, but excluding a tractor.

PUBLIC ROADWAY: The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained by the United States government, the state of Idaho, the Mountain Home highway district or the city of Mountain Home when any part thereof is generally opened to the use of the public for the purposes of vehicular traffic as a matter of right.

RECEIVING PROPERTY: Real property within which sound originating from sources outside the property is received.

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT: All areas zoned by this code exclusively as residential areas, as shown in section 9-7-6 of this code.

SOUND: An oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that causes compression and rarefaction of that medium, the description of sound may include any characteristic of such sound, including duration, intensity and frequency.

SOUND LEVEL: The weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound level meter and frequency weighting network as specified in the American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters. (Ord. 1002, 12-13-1982; amd. Ord. 1478, 7-9-2007)

7-7-3: UNLAWFUL SOUNDS:

It is unlawful for any person to cause sound, or for any person in possession of property to permit sound originating from such property to intrude into the real property of another person whenever such sound exceeds the maximum permissible levels established by this chapter. (Ord. 1002, 12-13-1982)