[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Scranton 9-24-1997
by Ord. No. 116-1996. This ordinance supersedes former Ch.
317, Noise, adopted as Ch. 22 of the 1979 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.Â
The making and creation of excessive, unnecessary or
unusually loud noises within the limits of the City of Scranton is a condition
which has existed for some time, and the extent and magnitude of such noises
are increasing.
B.Â
The making and creation of such loud noises is a detriment
to the public health, comfort, convenience, safety and welfare of the city
and may cause damage to property or business.
C.Â
The necessity, in the public interest, for the provisions
herein contained and enacted is declared as a matter of public policy for
the purpose of securing and promoting the public health, comfort, convenience,
safety, welfare and the peace and quiet of the residents of the city.
A.Â
All terminology used in this chapter not defined below
shall be in conformance with applicable publications of the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) or its successor body.
B.Â
A-WEIGHTED SOUND-PRESSURE LEVEL
CITY
CONSTRUCTION OPERATION
DECIBEL
DEPARTMENT
EMERGENCY
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
EMERGENCY WORK
IMPULSIVE NOISE
MOTOR VEHICLE
MUFFLER or SOUND-DISSIPATIVE DEVICE
NOISE
NOISE CONTROL OFFICER
NOISE DISTURBANCE
(1)Â
(2)Â
(3)Â
(4)Â
PERSONS
POWER MODEL VEHICLES
PROPERTY BOUNDARY
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
PUBLIC SPACE
REAL PROPERTY
SOUND
SOUND LEVEL
SOUND LEVEL METER
SOUND PRESSURE
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL
VIBRATION
ZONING DISTRICTS
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
The sound-pressure level as measured on a sound-level meter using
the A-weighting decibel network. The level so read shall be designated "dB(A)."
The City of Scranton.
Any erection, repair, renovation, demolition or removal of any building
or structure and the excavation, filling, grading and regulation of lots in
connection therewith.
A logarithmic unit of measure used in describing the amplitude of
sound. Decibel is denoted as "dB."
Any department, agency or authority of the City of Scranton.
Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent
physical trauma or property damage.
A motor vehicle used in response to a public calamity or to protect
persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger.
Work made necessary to restore property to a safe condition following
a public calamity, work to restore public utilities or work required to protect
persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger.
Noise characterized by brief excursions of sound pressure which significantly
exceed the ambient sound pressure. The duration of a single impulse is usually
less than one second.
As defined in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (75 Pa.C.S.A. § 101
et seq.)
A device decreasing or abating the level of sound escaping from an
engine or machinery system.
Any sound which is unwanted or which causes an adverse psychological
or physiological effect on human beings.
For the purpose of issuing exceptions or investigating land use bases
for noise disturbances, the Zoning Enforcement Officer shall be the Noise
Control Officer. In all other cases of complaint, investigation, enforcement
or citation of violations of this chapter shall be the responsibility of the
Bureau of Police.
A sound which:
Disrupts or injures the comfort, repose, health, hearing, peace or safety
of persons or animals;
Annoys, disturbs or perturbs a reasonable person with normal sensitivities;
Endangers or injures personal or real property; or
Is in excess of the sound levels by zoning districts established by
this chapter.
Any individual, association, partnership or corporation, user, owner
or operator, and includes any officer, employee, department, agency or instrument
of a state or any political subdivision of a state. Whenever used in any clause
prescribing and imposing a penalty, "person" includes the individual members,
partners, officers and managers or any of them of partnerships and associations
and, as for corporations, the officers and managers thereof or any of them
and, in their absence, the shareholders.
Any powered vehicles, either airborne, waterborne or landborne, which
are designed not to carry persons or property, such as but not limited to
model airplanes, boats, cars and rockets, and which can be propelled by mechanical
means.
An imaginary line, exterior to any enclosed structure, at the ground
surface, which separates the real property owned, rented or leased by one
person from that owned, rented or leased by another person and its vertical
extension.
Any street, avenue, boulevard, highway, sidewalk, alley or similar
place which is owned or controlled by a governmental entity.
Any real property or structures thereon which are owned or controlled
by a governmental entity.
All land, whether publicly or privately owned, whether improved or
not improved, with or without structures, exclusive of any areas devoted to
public rights-of-way.
An oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity
or other physical parameter in a medium with internal forces that causes compression
and rarefaction of that medium or the superposition of such propagated oscillation
which evokes an auditory sensation. The description of "sound" may include
any characteristics of such sound, including duration, intensity and frequency.
The weighted sound-pressure level obtained by the use of a sound-level
meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B or C, as specified in
the American National Standards Institute specifications for sound-level meters
(ANSI S1.4-1971 or the latest revision thereof). If the frequency weighting
employed is not included, the A-weighting shall apply.
An instrument, which includes but is not limited to a microphone,
amplifier, rms detector, integrator or time average or output meter, that
measures sound-pressure fluctuations. The output meter reads sound-pressure
level when properly calibrated and the instrument is of Type 2 or better as
specified in American National Standards Institute Publication S1.4-1971 or
its successor publication. The manufacturer's published indication of
compliance with such specifications shall comply.
The instantaneous difference between the actual pressure and the
average or barometric pressure at a given point in space, as produced by sound
energy.
The level of sound measured in dB units with a sound level meter
which has a uniform ("flat") response over the band of frequencies measured.
An oscillatory motion of solid bodies of deterministic or random
nature described by displacement, velocity or acceleration with respect to
a given reference point.
The land use districts established in File of the Council No. 74-1993
(as amended).[1]
The power and authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter shall
be vested in the Bureau of Police.
Each department whose duty it is to review and approve new projects
or changes to existing projects that result or may result in the emission
of noise shall consult with the Bureau of Police prior to such approval for
its recommendations.
Any written agreement, purchase order or instrument whereby the city
is committed to an expenditure of funds in return for work, services, equipment,
materials or any combination of the foregoing shall not be entered into unless
such agreement, purchase order or instrument contains provisions requiring
that any equipment or activities which are subject to the provisions of this
chapter will be operated, constructed or conducted without causing violation
of this chapter.
No residential district adjoining, abutting or otherwise bounded by
an industrial district shall receive in excess of 65 dB(A) as measured from
a point 10 feet inside the property line of any residence immediately on the
boundary of the two districts or immediately fronting a public right-of-way,
which right-of-way abuts, adjoins or runs contiguous with an industrial zone
boundary unless a sound barrier shall have been constructed. A sound barrier
shall be set back from the property a distance not less than a distance equivalent
to the height of the barrier erected within the property of the source of
a noise disturbance in an industrial zone. The sound barrier shall be in conformity
with any agreements with the Noise Control Officer but shall be constructed
of decorative masonry with an evergreen tree barricade on the residential
side, which trees shall not be spaced less than 10 feet apart. Appropriate
federal and state noise barrier guidelines and standards shall be consulted.
If a sound barrier is required, the maximum dB(A) shall be 75.
A.Â
No person shall make, continue or cause to be made or
continued any noise disturbance. Noncommercial public speaking and public
assembly activities shall be exempt. The following acts are specifically declared
to be a noise disturbance and in violation of this chapter:
(1)Â
Radios, television sets and similar devices. Operating
or permitting the use or operation of any radio set, musical instrument, television,
phonograph, sound amplifier, automobile radio, automobile stereo, high-fidelity
equipment, portable stereo or other device, including but not limited to devices
utilizing digital technology, for the production or reproduction of sound:
(a)Â
At any time of the day in such a manner from any source
so as to create a noise disturbance across a real property boundary;
(b)Â
In such a manner as to create a noise disturbance across
any real property boundary when operated in or on a motor vehicle on a public
right-of-way or public space;
(c)Â
In such a manner as to create a noise disturbance to
any person other than the operator of the device, when operated by any passenger
on a common carrier; or
(d)Â
At such a sound intensity that the sound is audible from
a distance of 40 feet in any public area, street or sidewalk of the city;
when the sound source is in any public area, street or sidewalk of the city.
(2)Â
Stationary nonemergency signaling devices. Sounding or
permitting the sounding of any signal from any stationary bell, chime, siren,
whistle or similar device, intended primarily for nonemergency purposes, from
any place, for more than one minute in any hourly period.
(3)Â
Emergency signaling devices.
(a)Â
The intentional sounding or permitting the sounding outdoors
of any fire, burglar or civil defense alarm, siren, whistle or similar stationary
emergency signaling device, except for emergency purposes or for testing;
or
(b)Â
Testing:
[1]Â
Testing of a stationary emergency signaling device shall
occur at the same time of the day each time such test is performed, but not
before 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. Any such testing shall use only the minimum
cycle test time. In no case shall such test time exceed 60 seconds.
[2]Â
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. Such testing shall not occur before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. The time limit specified in Subsection A(3)(b)[1] shall not apply to such complete system testing.
(c)Â
Sounding or permitting the sounding of any exterior burglar
alarm or any motor vehicle burglar alarm unless such alarm is automatically
terminated within six minutes.
(4)Â
Loudspeakers/public address systems. The use of or operation
of any loudspeaker, public address system device or similar device such that
sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a real property boundary.
(5)Â
Vehicle, motorboat or aircraft repairs and testing. Repairing,
rebuilding or testing any motor vehicle, motorcycle, motorboat or aircraft
in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance across a residential real
property boundary.
(6)Â
Powered model vehicles. Operating or permitting the operating
of powered model vehicles in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance
across a residential real property boundary or in a public space between the
hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day.
(7)Â
Domestic power tools.
(a)Â
Operating or permitting the operation of any mechanically
powered mower, saw, drill, sander, grinder, lawn or garden tool, snowblower
or similar device used outdoors in residential areas so as to cause a noise
disturbance across a residential property boundary between the hours of 10:00
p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day.
(b)Â
Snow removal devices such as snowblowers are exempt from
this section under one or more of the following conditions:
[1]Â
A municipal snow emergency declared by the city; an emergency
declaration by the Governor of the Commonwealth, state emergency agency or
their designees;
[2]Â
When an accumulation of one inch or more is forecast
by the National Weather Service; or
[3]Â
In the case of personal emergency or need to reach a
place of employment.
(8)Â
Street sales. Offering for sale by shouting or outcry
or by any other amplified or unamplified sound within any residential or commercial
area of the city except between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
(9)Â
Motor vehicle prohibitions.
(a)Â
Exhaust system. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped
with a muffler or other effective noise suppressing system in good working
order and in constant operation, and no muffler or exhaust system shall be
equipped with a cutout, bypass or similar device so as to cause a noise disturbance.
(b)Â
Maximum permissible motor vehicle sound-pressure levels
on public rights-of-way. No person shall operate or cause to be operated a
public or private motor vehicle or motorcycle or any equipment attached to
such a vehicle on a public right-of-way at any time in such a manner that
the sound emitted by the motor vehicle or motorcycle or any equipment attached
to such a vehicle exceeds the level set forth in Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation Regulations Title 67, Chapter 157, Subchapter b, 67 Pa. Code § 157.11,
and all amendments thereto.
(c)Â
Standing motor vehicles. No person shall operate or permit
the operation of any motor vehicle or any auxiliary equipment attached to
such a vehicle while the vehicle is stationary, for reasons other than traffic
congestion, anywhere within 250 feet of any residence in such a manner as
to cause a noise disturbance across a residential property boundary for a
period longer than 15 minutes in any hour.
(d)Â
Unnecessary hornblowing. No person shall at any time
sound the horn or other warning device of a vehicle except when absolutely
necessary as a warning while actually driving such vehicle.
(e)Â
Sound trucks. No person shall operate sound-amplifying
equipment mounted on or attached to any motor vehicle:
(10)Â
Concerts, block parties and other outdoor performances.
Band concerts, block parties, church carnivals or other performances, or similar
activities publicly or privately sponsored and presented in any public or
private space outdoors, shall not produce sound in excess of 85 dB(A) unless
in receipt of a noise control exception as issued by the Noise Control Officer.
(11)Â
Loading and unloading operations. Loading, unloading,
opening, closing or other handling of boxes, crates, containers, building
or construction materials, industrial waste or cast-off parts, garbage cans
or other similar objects, without attenuation of sound through mufflers, suppressors,
exterior barriers or the like, of manufacturing or industrial equipment between
the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the day following in such a manner
as to cause a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary.
This subsection shall not apply to municipal or utility services in or about
the public right-of-way.
(12)Â
Explosives, firearms and similar devices. The use or
firing of explosives, firearms or similar devices which create impulsive sound
so as to cause a noise disturbance across a real property boundary or on a
public right-of-way, without first obtaining a variance issued pursuant to
the Zoning Ordinance[1] of the City of Scranton.
(13)Â
Construction. Operating or permitting the operation of
any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling or demolition work:
(a)Â
Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. the following
day on weekdays and Saturdays or between the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.
on Sundays and holidays, such that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance
across a residential real property line, except for public safety emergency
work or unless a variance has been obtained.
(b)Â
At any other time such that the sound level exceeds 85
dB(A) at or across a real property boundary unless a variance has been obtained.
(14)Â
Places of public entertainment. Operating, playing or
permitting the operation or playing of any radio, television, phonograph,
drum, musical instrument, sound amplifier, electronic or mechanical sound-producing
device now or to be developed which produces, reproduces or amplifies sound
within any place of public entertainment at a sound level greater than 90
dB(A) as read by the slow response on a sound level meter at any point that
is normally occupied by a customer unless a conspicuous and legible sign is
located outside such a place, near each public entrance stating: WARNING:
SOUND LEVELS WITHIN MAY CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING IMPAIRMENT!
(15)Â
Animals and birds. Owning or possessing, harboring or
controlling any animal or bird that barks, bays, cries, squawks or makes any
other noise continuously and/or incessantly for a period of ten minutes or
makes such noise intermittently for 1/2 hour or more to the disturbance of
any person any time of the day or night regardless of whether the animal or
bird is physically situated in or upon private property; provided, however,
that at the time the animal or bird is making such noise no person is trespassing
or threatening to trespass upon private property in or upon which the animal
is situated or for any other legitimate cause which teased or provoked the
animal or bird.
(16)Â
Vibration. Unless a variance is obtained, operating or
permitting the operation of any device that causes vibration which is above
the vibration perception threshold of an individual at or beyond the property
boundary of the source if on private property or at 50 feet from the source
if the source is on a public space or public right-of-way. For the purpose
of this section, "vibration perception threshold" means the minimum ground
or structure-borne vibrational motion necessary to cause a person of normal
sensitivities to be aware of the vibration by such direct means, but not limited
to, sensation by touch or visual observation of moving objects.
B.Â
Tampering. The following acts or the causing thereof
is prohibited:
(1)Â
The removal or rendering inoperative by any person other
than for purposes of maintenance, repair or replacement of any muffler or
sound-dissipative device or element of design or noise label of any product.
(2)Â
The intentional moving or rendering inaccurate or inoperative
of any sound-monitoring instrument or device positioned by or for the Bureau
of Police, provided that such device is clearly labeled in accordance with
noise-control regulations to warn of the potential illegality.
(3)Â
The use of a product which has had a muffler or sound-dissipative
device or element of design or noise label removed or rendered inoperative,
with knowledge that such action has occurred.
C.Â
Prima facie violation. The noise from any of the aforesaid
prohibited acts that disturbs two or more residents who are in general agreement
as to times and duration of the noise and who reside in separate residences,
including apartments and condominiums located across a property line (boundary)
from the property on which the source of the noise is generated, shall be
prima facie evidence of a noise disturbance.
No land use or its operations shall generate a sound level exceeding
the limits established in the table below, when measured at the specified
locations:
Land Use or Zoning District Receiving the Noise
|
Hours/Days
|
Maximum Sound Level
|
---|---|---|
10 feet inside a lot in a residential district
|
1. 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. other than Sundays, Christmas Day, Thanks-
giving Day, New Year's Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Memorial Day
|
1. 69dB(A)
|
2. 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. plus all day Sundays, Christmas Day, Thanks-
giving Day, New Year's Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Memorial Day
|
2. 64dB(A)
| |
10 feet inside a lot in an I-G or I-L District
|
All times and days
|
78 dB(A)
|
10 feet inside any lot line not listed above
|
All times and days
|
70 dB(A)
|
A.Â
Places of religious worship. The sounding or permitting
the sounding of any stationary bell or chime used in conjunction with places
of worship.
B.Â
Public buildings outdoor sound system. The sounding or
permitting the sounding of any stationary bell, chime or public address system
for any public purpose used by any structure located on public space.
C.Â
Noise caused in the performance of emergency work for
the immediate safety, health or welfare of the community or individuals of
the community or to restore property to a safe condition following a public
calamity.
A.Â
Violation of the foregoing provisions of this chapter
shall be cause for a citation to be issued forthwith. In lieu of a citation,
enforcement personnel may issue an order requiring abatement of any source
of noise disturbance or vibration alleged to be in violation of this chapter
within a reasonable time period which may not exceed 30 days.
B.Â
Except where a person is acting in good faith to comply
with a notice of violation, violation of any section of this chapter shall
be cause for a citation to be issued by the Bureau of Police.
A.Â
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any
provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to
pay a fine of not more than $600 for each violation or shall be imprisoned
for a term not to exceed 30 days, or both. Every day that a violation of this
chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense.
B.Â
This chapter and the foregoing penalties shall not be
construed to limit or deny the right of the city or any other person to such
equitable or other remedies as may otherwise be available with or without
process of law.