(A) It shall not be the intent of this section to regulate noises in circumstances where persons, property, wildlife or plant life are not affected by the noise. The following activities or sources are exempt, except during certain hours as specified below:
(1) Activities covered by the following: stationary, non-emergency signaling devices, emergency signaling devices, domestic power tools, air-conditioning and air-handling equipment for residential purposes, operating motor vehicles, refuse collection vehicles;
(2) The unamplified human voice;
(3) Railway locomotives and cars;
(4) The lowing of cattle, the clucking of fowl, the neighing of horses, the baying of hounds or other normal sounds of reasonably cared for agricultural or domestic animals, as well as the sounds of necessary farming equipment for a bona fide agricultural operation;
(5) Aircraft operations;
(6) Construction or routine maintenance of public service utilities;
(7) Houses of worship bells or chimes (see division (B)(5) below);
(8) Activities regulated by the Pasco County Mining regulations; or
(9) Firearms.
(B) The following are exempted, except during the hours or time limits specified:
(1) Radios, television sets, musical instruments and similar devices. Operating, playing of any radio, television, phonograph, drum, musical instrument or similar device which produces or reproduces sound:
(a) Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance into a residentially developed area so as to violate the provisions of this section; and/or
(b) In such a manner as to exceed the levels set forth for public space in this section, measured at a distance of at least 50 feet from the device operating on a public right-of-way or public space;
(2) Loudspeakers. Using or operating for any purpose any loudspeaker, loudspeaker system or similar device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day, such that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance into a residentially committed and developed area so as to violate the provisions of this section. This section shall not apply to public school activities and special public assembly events approved by the governing body;
(3) Loading and unloading. Loading, unloading, closing or other handling of boxes, crates, containers, building materials or similar objects between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following day in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance into a residential area or so as to at anytime violate the provisions of this section;
(4) Construction. Operating or causing the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, blasting, alteration or demolition work between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day, such that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance into a residentially committed and developed area so as to violate the provisions of this section, except for emergency work of public service utilities. This section shall not apply to the use of domestic power tools as specified in this section;
(5) Stationary non-emergency signaling devices. Sounding or permitting the sounding of any electronically amplified signal from any stationary bell, chime, siren, whistle or similar device, intended primarily for nonemergency purposes, from any place, for more than ten seconds in any hourly period shall be prohibited. Houses of worship shall not be governed by this provision;
(6) The intentional sounding or permitting the sounding outdoors of any fire, burglar or civil defense alarm, siren, whistle or similar stationary emergency purposes or for testing. Testing of a stationary emergency signaling device shall not occur between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day. Any such testing shall only use the minimum cycle test time. In no case shall the test exceed 60 seconds. Testing of the complete emergency signaling system, including the functioning of the signaling device and the personnel response to the signaling device, shall not occur more than once in each calendar month. The testing shall not occur between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day;
(7) Burglar, fire alarm and the like. Sounding or permitting the sounding of any exterior burglar or fire alarm or any motor vehicle burglar alarm unless, the alarm is automatically terminated within 15 minutes of activation, shall be prohibited;
(8) Tools. Operating or permitting the operating of any mechanically powered saw, sander, drill, grinder, lawn or garden tool or similar tool between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day so as to create a noise disturbance into a residentially developed area in violation of the provisions of this section, shall be prohibited. Any motor, machinery, pumps and the like, shall be properly muffled not to create a noise disturbance, as defined by the provisions of this section; and
(9) Refuse collection vehicles. No person shall collect refuse with a refuse collection vehicle between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following day in a residentially committed and developed area or noise sensitive zone. The provisions of this section shall not apply to 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.
(Ord. 1070-11, passed 10-10-2011)