§ 97.20. Sound Level Standards.  


Latest version.
  • (A)   No activity or use of property shall cause or permit any sound to exceed the sound limits set forth herein for more than 10% of the observation period unless specifically provided for elsewhere in this chapter.

    (1)   At no point at or within the boundary of a single family residential property or within a structure used for single family residential purposes, may the following sound pressure levels be exceeded:

    Day:  55 dBA   Night:  50 dBA

    (2)   At no point at or within the boundary of a multi-family residential property, public property or institutional property or within a structure used for multi-family residential purposes, public purposes and institutional purposes, may the following sound pressure level be exceeded:

    Day:  60 dBA   Night:  55 dBA

    (3)   At no point at or within the boundary of a retail or commercial property or within a structure used for retail purposes or commercial purposes, may the following sound pressure levels be exceeded:

    Day:  65 dBA   Night:  65 dBA

    (4)   At no point at or within the boundary of an industrial property or manufacturing property, or within a structure used for industrial purposes or manufacturing purposes, may the following sound pressure levels be exceeded:

    Day:  65 dBA   Night:  65 dBA

    (5)   In the absence of a specific sound level standard, any sound which exceeds the ambient sound level by five dBA or more shall be deemed a prima facie violation of this chapter.

    (B)   For any source of sound, except impulsive sounds, the maximum sound level, regardless of duration, shall not exceed the sound level standards established in division (A) of this section by the following:

    (1)   Ten dBA at or within the boundary of all residential, public or institutional properties during the day.

    (2)   Five dBA at or within the boundary of all residential, public or institutional properties during the night.

    (3)   Ten dBA at or within the boundary of all retail, commercial, manufacturing or industrial properties during both day and night.

    (C)   In residential areas any sound resulting from the operation of any air-conditioning or air-handling equipment shall not exceed the following sound level limits for 50% of the observation period.

    (1)   Sixty dBA at or within the boundary of a residential property.

    (2)   Fifty-five dBA within a structure used for residential purposes.

    (D)   Where the ambient sound level exceeds the sound level standards established in this section, any source which creates a sound level five dBA or more over the ambient for more than 10% of the observation period, shall be deemed a prima facie violation of this chapter.

    (E)   All sound level measurements required in order to determine a violation of this section shall be taken at or within the boundary of the property rented, leased or owned by the complainant or within a structure inhabited, rented, leased or owned by the complainant.  A signed written complaint must be received by the city for the investigation of any alleged violation of this section, otherwise no such complaint shall be investigated.

    (Ord. 94-32, passed 4-5-94)  Penalty, see § 10.99