§ 17-129. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

A-weighted sound level means the sound level as measured with the A-weighting network on a sound level meter meeting the standards set forth in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) S1.4-1983 or its successors. The unit of reporting is dBA. Sounds measured with the "A" weighting network approximate the response of human hearing when measuring sounds of low to moderate intensity without an amplified low frequency component.

Amplified sound means the reproduction of sound from any radio, stereo, CD player, DVD player, microphone, drum, turn table, audio or visual equipment, musical instrument, sound equipment, sound amplification device, television set, exterior loudspeakers, bullhorn or any similar device.

C-weighted sound level means the sound level as measured using the "C" weighting network with a sound level meter meeting the standards as set forth in ANSI S1.4-1983 or its successors. The unit of reporting is dBC. The "C" weighting network is more sensitive to low frequencies than the "A" weighting network.

Construction and demolition allowable hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.

Customary sleeping hours means the period of time commencing at 10:00 p.m. and ending at 8:00 a.m. the following morning, except that on Friday and Saturday nights, the period shall commence at 11:00 p.m. rather than 10:00 p.m. On the New Year's Eve holiday, the period shall not commence until 1:00 a.m. on January 1.

Decibel (dB) means a logarithmic unit of measurement that expresses the magnitude of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. Since it expresses a ratio of two quantities with the same unit, it is a dimensionless unit. In the case of this noise ordinance, a decibel means a unit for measuring the amplitude of sound, equal to 20 times the base ten logarithm of the ratio of the measured sound pressure to the reference pressure, which is 20 microPascals. Generally, higher decibel levels represent louder sounds.

Domestic power tools means hand powered or mechanically powered saw, sander, grinder, lawn/garden tool or reasonably similar tools. However, to be lawful, the use of sound producing tools may not occur during "customary sleeping hours".

Disturbing noise means noise that is an uninvited and disruptive level of sound that is unreasonably loud or that is raucous and jarring, due to volume, character, or duration, and that causes an actual interference with a person's ability to enjoy peacefully his residence or place of business.

Emergency or emergency work means any occurrence or set of circumstances involving or creating actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage that demands immediate attention.

Noise control officer means, code compliance officers and law enforcement personnel authorized to enforce provisions of this Code.

Property boundary means the imaginary line along the surface, and its vertical plane extension, that separates the real property owned, rented, or leased by one person from that owned, rented, or leased by another person.

Public event means public events and celebrations with or without an approved and issued public assembly permit.

Public right-of-way means any street, avenue, boulevard, lane, highway, sidewalk, alley, or similar place normally accessible to the public that is owned or controlled by a governmental entity or that has been dedicated to use or access for the benefit of the public or adjacent property owners.

Sound level meter means an instrument including a microphone, amplifier, an output meter, and frequency weighting networks for the measurement of noise and sound levels in a specific manner which complies with standards established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) specifications for sound level meters.

Soundproof means any physical arrangement or configuration of a building that is sufficient to prevent the sound of live entertainment or amplified sound from constituting unreasonable noise within any residence or residential property, or from any other nonresidential establishment more than 200 feet away from a property boundary of the sound source.

(Code 1979, § 13-52; Ord. No. 32-2000, § 3; Ord. No. 2-2001, § 2; Ord. No. 028-2015 , § 1)