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Environmental Noise Disturbance
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(Section 6.755 adopted by Ordinance No. 20378, enacted February 26, 2007, effective April 4, 2007; clerically corrected May 1, 2008; and amended by Ordinance No. 20528, enacted May 14, 2014, effective June 23, 2014.)

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Unless exempted by section 6.755 of this code, the following acts are declared to be noise disturbances, as that term is defined in section 4.080 of this code – however this enumeration shall not be deemed an exclusive list of the violations of this section, nor shall the recitation of specific prohibitions below be deemed the exclusive and entire listing of unlawful noise disturbances for each subcategory.

(a) Exhausts. Discharging into the open air the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine, motorboat, motor vehicle, or any mechanical device operated by compressed air or steam without a muffler or other device which will effectively prevent the emission of loud or explosive noises except where such discharge is from vehicles used for participation in vehicle spectator sports activities between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., and the activities are properly licensed by the city and consistent with its zoning ordinance.

(b) Idling engines. Operating for more than 15 consecutive minutes any idling engine in such a manner as to be plainly audible within any dwelling unit between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day.

(c) Loading, unloading, opening boxes. Loading or unloading any vehicle or opening, closing or destroying bales, boxes, crates and containers, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day, so as to create a noise disturbance.

(d) Construction or repair of buildings, streets, etc. Constructing (including excavating), demolishing, altering, or repairing any building, street, sidewalk, driveway, sewer or utility line between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day.

(e) Pile drivers, hammers, leaf blowers lawnmowers, etc. Operating any pile driver, steam shovel, pneumatic hammer, derrick, steam or electric hoist, leaf blower, or lawnmower between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day. No single powered leaf blower shall produce a noise level exceeding 70dBA measured at a distance of 50 feet. No powered leaf blower shall be operated within a 100-foot radius of another powered leaf blower simultaneously. On a single-family residential property, the 70 dBA at 50 feet restriction shall not apply if operated for fewer than 10 minutes during any consecutive sixty minute period.

(f) Residential pumps, fans and air conditioners. Operating any heat pumps, residential fans, air conditioners, stationary pumps, stationary cooling towers, stationary compressors, or similar mechanical device or any combination thereof installed after [the effective date of this ordinance] so as to create any noise which would cause the maximum noise level to exceed 60 dBA at any point on the property line of the affected residential property.

(g) Steam whistles, sirens, and other aural warning devices. Operating or permitting the operation of a steam whistle, siren, or other aural warning device except where necessary to provide a warning of fire or danger.

(h) Other. Any sound source exceeding the standards set out in section 9.2530(20) of this code and not otherwise exempt therefrom.

(Section 6.750 adopted by Ordinance No. 20378, enacted February 26, 2007, effective April 4, 2007; amended by Ordinance No. 20680, enacted January 23, 2023, effective January 24, 2023.)