A. The following noises are exempt from the provisions of this chapter at all times, provided, that nothing in these exemptions is intended to preclude the possible reduction of noise consistent with economic feasibility:
1. Noise originating from aircraft in flight, and sounds which originate at airports and are directly related to flight operations;
2. Noise created by safety and protective devices, such as relief valves where noise suppression would defeat the safety relief intent of the device;
3. Noise created by fire alarms, or noise created by emergency equipment including, but not limited to, emergency standby or backup equipment and emergency work necessary in the interests of law enforcement or of the health, safety, or welfare of the community, and including, but not limited to, any emergency work necessary to replace or repair essential utility services;
4. Noise created by auxiliary equipment on motor vehicles used for highway maintenance;
5. Noise originating from officially sanctioned parades, sporting events, and other public events including, but not limited to, events conducted by the city of Orting and Orting public school district;
6. Noise created by warning devices not operated continuously for more than thirty (30) minutes per incident;
7. Noise created by motor vehicles when regulated by this chapter;
8. Noise created by natural phenomenon and unamplified human voices;
9. Noise created by motor vehicles, licensed or unlicensed, when operated off public highways except when such sounds are received in residential zones of the city;
10. Noise created by existing stationary equipment used in the conveyance of water by utilities and noise created by existing electrical substations;
11. Noise created by sources in industrial districts which over the previous three (3) years have consistently operated in excess of fifteen (15) hours per day as a demonstrated routine or as a consequence of process necessity;
12. Noise created from school marching bands while practicing for parades on public streets.
B. The following sources of noise are exempt or partially exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
1. Noise created by the operation of equipment or facilities of surface carriers engaged in commerce by railroad;
2. Noise emanating from temporary construction sites except between the hours of six o'clock (6:00) P.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) A.M., Sundays and holidays.
3. The public works director and/or the building official, and/or his or her designee, shall have the authority to prohibit, or to allow with or without mitigating conditions, noise that emanates from construction or related activity during evening or nighttime hours.
C. It is the intention of the city council to consider amendments to this chapter controlling the sources exempted in subsection B of this section whenever the Washington state department of ecology promulgates specific regulations relating to the specific sources in the future. (Ord. 2015-971, 8-26-2015)