16.30.060 Activities Exempt from Regulations.

The following activities shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter:

   A.   Emergency Exemption. The emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of an emergency, or the emission of sound in the performance of emergency work.

   B.   Warning Device. Warning devices necessary for the protection of public safety, (e.g., police, tire and ambulance sirens, and train horns).

   C.   Outdoor Activities. Activities conducted on public playgrounds and public or private school grounds. including, but not limited to, school athletic and school entertainment events.

   D.   Motion Picture Production and Related Activities. Activities in connection to production of motion pictures.

   E.   Railroad Activities. All locomotives and rail cars operated by any railroad which is regulated by the state Public Utilities Commission.

   F.   Federal or State Pre-Exempted Activities. Any activity, to the extent regulation thereof has been pre-empted by state or federal law,

   G.   Public Health and Safety Activities. All transportation, flood control, and utility company maintenance and construction operations at any time on public right-of-way, and those situations that may occur on private real property deemed necessary to serve the best interest of the public and to protect the public's health and well being, including, but not limited to, street sweeping, debris and limb removal, removal of downed wires, restoring electrical service, repairing traffic signals, unplugging sewers, house moving, vacuuming catchbasins, removal of damaged poles and vehicles, repair of water hydrants and mains, gas lines, oil lines, sewers, etc.

   H.   Motor, Vehicles on Public Right-of-Way and Private Property. Except as provided in this chapter, all vehicles operating in a legal manner in compliance with local, state, and federal vehicle noise regulations within the public right-of-way or on private property.

      1.   Minor Maintenance to Residential Real Property. Noise sources associated with the minor maintenance of residential real property, provided the activities take place between the hours of seven a.m. and eight p.m. on any day except Sunday, or between the hours of nine a.m. and eight p.m. on Sunday.

(Ord. 182 § 2 (part), 1997)

16.30.070 Decibel Measurement.

Decibel measurements made in compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall be based on a reference sound-pressure of twenty (20) micropascals, as measured with a sound level meter using the A-weighted network (scale) at slow response, or at the fast response when measuring impulsive sound levels and vibrations.

(Ord. 182 § 2 (part). 1997)

16.30.080 Noise Zones Designated.

Receptor properties described in this chapter are hereby assigned to the following noise zones:

   A.   Noise zone I, noise-sensitive area:

   B.   Noise zone II, residential properties;

   C.   Noise zone Ill, commercial properties: and

   D.   Noise zone IV, industrial properties.

(Ord. 182 § 2 (part), 1997)

16.30.090 Exterior Noise Standards.

   A.   Standards for Noise Zones. Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the following exterior noise levels shall apply to all receptor properties within a designated noise zone:

TABLE 3-6
EXTERIOR NOISE STANDARDS

 

Noise Zone	Designated Noise Zone Land Use (Receptor Property)	Time Interval	Allowed Exterior Noise Level (dB)
I	Noise-sensitive area	Anytime	45
II	Residential properties Residential properties within five hundred (500) feet of a kennel(s)	10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (nighttime) 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (daytime) 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.	45 50 70
III	Commercial properties	10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. (nighttime) 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (daytime)	55 60
IV	Industrial properties	Anytime	70

 

   B.    Noise Standards. No person shall operate or cause to be operated. any source of sound at any location within the city or allow the creation of any noise on property owned, leased, occupied or otherwise controlled by a person that causes the noise level, when measured on any other property to exceed the following exterior noise standards:

      1.   Standard No. 1. Standard No. 1 shall be the exterior noise level which shall not be exceeded for a cumulative period of more than thirty (30) minutes in any hour. Standard No. 1 may be the applicable noise level from Table 3-6 above.

      2.   Standard No. 2. Standard No. 2 shall be the exterior noise level which shall not be exceeded for a cumulative period of more than fifteen (15) minutes in any hour. Standard No. 2 shall be the applicable noise level from Table 3-6 above, plus five dB.

      3.   Standard No. 3. Standard No. 3 shall be the exterior noise level which shall not be exceeded for a cumulative period of more than five minutes in any hour. Standard No. 3 shall be the applicable noise level from Table 3-6 above plus ten dB.

      4.   Standard No. 4. Standard No. 4 shall be the exterior noise level which shall not be exceeded for a cumulative period of more than one minute in any hour. Standard No. 4 shall be the applicable noise level from Table 3-6 above plus fifteen (15) dB.

      5.   Standard No. 5. Standard No. 5 shall be the exterior noise level which shall not be exceeded for any period of time. Standard No. 5 shall be the applicable noise level from Table 3-6 above plus twenty (20) dB.

   C.   Noise at Zone Boundaries. If the measurement location is on a boundary property between two different zoning districts, the exterior noise level utilized in subsection B of this chapter to determine the exterior standard shall be the arithmetic mean of the exterior noise levels. as specified in Table 3-6, of the subject zones.

   D.   Measurement of Ambient Noise Histogram. The ambient noise histogram shall be measured at the same location along the property line utilized in subsection B. above, with the alleged intruding noise source inoperative. If the alleged intruding noise source cannot be turned off, the ambient noise histogram shall be estimated by performing a measurement in the same general area of the alleged intruding noise source but at a sufficient distance so that the noise from the alleged intruding noise source is at least ten dB below the ambient noise histogram.

   E.   Abatement Notice in Lieu of Citation. If the intrusive noise exceeds the exterior noise standards provided in subsections A and B above, at a specific receptor property and the code enforcement officer has reason to believe that this violation was unanticipated and due to abnormal conditions, the code enforcement officer shall issue an abatement notice in lieu of a citation. lithe specific violation is abated, no citation shall be is-sued. If the specific violation is not abated, the code enforcement officer shall issue a citation.

(Ord. 182 § 2 (part), 1997)

16.30.100 Interior Noise Standards for Multi-Family Residential.

   A.   Noise Standards for Residential Units. No person shall operate or cause to be operated within a residential unit. any source of sound, or allow the creation of any noise, that causes the noise level when measured inside a neighboring receiving residential unit to exceed the following standards:

      1.   Standard No. 1. The applicable interior noise level for cumulative period of more than five minutes in any hour;

      2.   Standard No. 2. The applicable interior noise level plus five dB for a cumulative period of more than one minute in any hour; or

      3.   Standard No. 3. The applicable interior noise level plus ten dB for any period of time.

   B.   Interior Noise Levels for Multi-Family Residential. The following interior noise levels shall apply within multi-family dwellings with windows in their normal seasonal configuration.

 

Noise Zone	Designated Land Use	Time Interval	Allowable Interior Noise Level(dBl
All	Multi-family Residential	10:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m. 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m.	40 45

 

If the measured ambient noise level reflected by the L50 exceeds that permissible within the interior noise standards in subsection A above. the allowable interior noise level shall be increased in five dB increments to reflect the ambient noise level (L5„ ).

(Ord. 182 § 2 (part), 1997)

16.30.110 Correction for Certain Types of Sounds.

For any source of sound that emits a pure tone or impulsive noise, the allowed noise levels provided in Sections 1 6.30.090 (Exterior Noise Standards) and 16.30.100 (Interior Noise Standards for Multi-family Residential) shall be reduced by five decibels.

(Ord. 182 § 2 (part). 1997)

16.30.120 Measurement Methods.

   A.   A-weighting Scale. The noise level shall be measured at a position(s) at any point on the receiver's property utilizing the A-weighting scale of the sound-level meter and the slow meter response (use fast response for impulsive type sounds). Calibration of the measurement equipment, utilizing an acoustic calibrator, shall be performed immediately prior to recording any noise data.

   B.   Microphone Location. The microphone shall be located four to five feet above the ground and ten feet or more from the nearest reflective surface except in those cases where another elevation is deemed appropriate.

   C.   Interior Noise. Interior noise measurements shall be made within the affected residential unit. The measurements shall be made at a point at least four feet from the wall, ceiling or floor nearest the noise source, with windows in the normal seasonal configuration.

(Ord. 182 § 2 (part), 1997)