[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen 9-18-2002;
amended in its entirety 2-15-2007. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
A.
Inadequately controlled noise presents a growing danger
to the health and welfare of the residents of the Town of Orange.
B.
The residents of the Town of Orange have a right and
should be ensured an environment free from excessive sound and vibration that
may jeopardize their health, safety, or welfare, or degrade the quality of
life.
C.
Certain activities by their nature create excessive noise
and vibration, which, if left unregulated, affect the health, safety, welfare
and quality of life of the residents of the Town of Orange.
D.
The Town of Orange seeks to protect, preserve and promote
the health, safety, welfare and quality of life of its residents by the regulation
of certain uses, which, by their nature, create excessive noise.
The objective of this chapter shall be to make it unlawful for any person
to make, or continue to cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary
or unusual noise which disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or
which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness
residing in the area.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Noise which exists at a point as a result of the combination of many
distant sources, individually indistinguishable. In statistical terms, it
is the level which is exceeded 90% of the time (L90)
in which the measurement is taken.
Those areas within the Commercial District, which are within 150
feet of a residential building within the Town, provided that the residential
building preexisted the specific use within the business zone. The one-hundred-fifty-foot
measurement shall be taken from the source of the noise generation to the
closest point of the foundation of the residential building.
The Chief of Police of the Town of Orange or his/her designated officer
or officers.
The area of the Town of Orange designated by § 383-15 of the Zoning Regulations for the Town of Orange as "Commercial C-1 District," "Commercial C-2 District" and "Local Shopping Center LSC District" and established as shown on a map entitled "Zoning Map of the Town of Orange, Connecticut," dated June 21, 1971, revised August 25, 1971, including any special maps and boundary descriptions supplementary thereto and any amendments thereof. Within the Commercial District, there shall be a Business Zone as hereinabove defined.
Any and all physical activity of the site necessary or incidental
to the erection, placement, demolishing, assembling, altering, blasting, cleaning,
repairing, installing or equipping of buildings or other structures, roads,
premises, parks, utility lines or other property, and shall include but not
be limited to land clearing, grading, excavating, filling and paving except
for any such activities with respect to public highways or roads.
The hours between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday,
and the hours between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.
A unit of measurement of the sound level, the symbol for which is
dB.
Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent
physical trauma or property damage which demands immediate action.
The person who creates, causes to be created or allows the noise.
Any sound, the intensity of which exceeds the standards set forth
in this chapter.
Sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt
onset and rapid decay.
A device with an audible signal which, when activated, indicates
intrusion by an unauthorized person.
The A-weighted sound pressure level exceeded 90% of the time period
during which measurement was made.
The area of the Town of Orange designated by § 383-15 of the Zoning Regulations for the Town of Orange as "Light Industrial District No. 1", "Light Industrial District No. 2" and "Light Industrial District No. 3" and established as shown on a map entitled "Zoning Map of the Town of Orange, Connecticut," dated June 21, 1971, revised August 25, 1971, including any special maps and boundary descriptions supplementary thereto and any amendments thereof.
A vehicle as defined in Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-1(51).
The hours between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday evening through
Saturday morning, and between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. Saturday evening through
Sunday morning.
A frequency weighted sound pressure level as measured with a sound
level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated
dBA.
The area of the Town of Orange designated by § 383-15 of the Zoning Regulations for the Town of Orange as "Office Park District" and "Business Office Park District" and established as shown on a map entitled "Zoning Map of the Town of Orange, Connecticut," dated June 21, 1971, revised August 25, 1971, including any special maps and boundary descriptions supplementary thereto and any amendments thereof.
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, syndicate, company,
trust, corporation, municipality, agency, or political or administrative subdivision
of the state or other legal entity of any kind.
Any building, structure, land, or portion thereof, including all
appurtenances, owned or controlled by a person.
All engine- or motor-powered tools and equipment used occasionally
in the repair and upkeep of exterior property and including, but not limited
to, lawn mowers, riding tractors, wood chippers, power saws and leaf blowers.
A device, either stationary or mobile, producing an audible signal
associated with a set of circumstances involving actual or imminent danger
to persons or damage to property which demands immediate action.
All activity related to the clearing, cleaning, repair and upkeep
of public roads, sidewalks, sewers, water mains, utilities and publicly owned
property.
The person who receives the noise impact.
Any internal-combustion-engine-powered vehicle which is being used
for recreational purposes.
The area of the Town of Orange designated by § 383-15 of the Zoning Regulations for the Town of Orange and established as shown on a map entitled "Zoning Map of the Town of Orange, Connecticut," dated June 21,1971, revised August 25, 1971, including any special maps and boundary descriptions supplementary thereto and any amendments thereof.
A transmission of energy through solid, liquid or gaseous media in
the form of vibrations which constitute alterations in pressure or position
of the particles in the medium and which, in air, evoke physiological sensations,
including, but not limited to, an auditory response when impinging on the
ear.
An instrument used to measure sound pressure levels. A sound level
meter shall conform, as a minimum, to the operational specifications of the
American National Standards Institute for sound level meters ANSI S1.4-1983
(R 1997) (Type 1).
Twenty times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure
of a sound to the reference pressure of 20 micro Pascals, expressed in decibel
(dB) units.
The duly appointed Zoning Enforcement Officer of the Town of Orange
or his or her designee.
This chapter shall not apply to noise emitted by or related to:
A.
Natural phenomena.
B.
The sound made by any wild animal without amplification.
C.
A bell or chime from any building clock, school or church.
D.
A public emergency sound signal.
E.
Warning devices required by OSHA or other state or federal
safety regulations.
F.
Farming equipment or farming activity.
G.
An emergency.
The following shall be exempt from this chapter subject to the special
conditions noted:
A.
Noise created by the operation of properly maintained
and properly functioning property maintenance equipment between daytime hours.
B.
Noise generated by any equipment used in construction
and operated outside of a fully enclosed building or structure or by the operation
of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling or demolition work
or for cleaning and sweeping operations between daytime hours.
C.
Noise created by any recreational activities which are
sanctioned by the Town, including, but not limited to, parades, concerts and
firework displays. Any equipment related to such recreational activities shall
be properly maintained and properly functioning.
D.
Noise created by a refuse collection vehicle designed
for the mechanical lifting and dumping of dumpsters or other trash containers
or a vehicle designed for cleaning or sweeping operations within the Town
between daytime hours.
E.
Noise created by a properly maintained and properly functioning
fire or intrusion alarm, which from time of activation of the audible signal
emits noise for a period of time not exceeding 10 minutes when such alarm
is attached to a vehicle or 30 minutes when attached to any building or structure.
F.
Noise created by public facility maintenance between
daytime hours.
G.
Noise created by snow removal, provided that such equipment
shall be maintained in good repair so as to minimize noise, and noise discharge
from exhausts shall be adequately muffled to prevent loud and/or explosive
noises therefrom.
H.
Noise generated by an authorized municipal or state construction
project that occurs during daytime hours or nighttime hours.
For the purpose of determining noise levels as set forth in this chapter,
and set forth in Connecticut Regulations Section 22a-69-4, the following procedures
shall be applicable:
A.
A person conducting sound measurements shall have been
trained in the techniques and principles of sound-measuring equipment and
instrumentation.
B.
Instruments used to determine sound level measurements
shall be sound level meters as defined in this chapter.
C.
The following steps shall be taken when preparing to
take sound level measurements:
(1)
The instrument manufacturer's specific instructions
for the preparation and use of the instrument shall be followed.
(2)
Measurements to determine compliance with this chapter
shall, in those cases where a receptor is an abutter to the emitter, be taken
at a point that is located more or less one foot beyond the boundary of the
emitter's premises and at a point within the receptor's premises.
In those cases where the receptor is not an abutter to the emitter, measurements
to determine compliance with this chapter shall be taken at a point that is
located more or less one foot within the boundary of the receptor's premises.
(3)
The person conducting the testing shall prepare a written
report to include, but not necessarily be limited to, such information as
date, time, location, observation of conditions of the environment, such as
identification of noise source, weather, traffic and other pertinent data.
D.
The Zoning Enforcement Officer is charged with assisting
in training efforts and with assisting emitters in their efforts to comply
with the standards set forth herein.
E.
The Town Planner and the Zoning Enforcement Officer are
charged with the review of development proposals during the administrative
review process to determine the potential for violation of this chapter and
to assist potential emitters in their efforts to comply with the standards
set forth herein.
A.
Noise levels. It shall be unlawful for any person to
emit or cause to be emitted any noise beyond the boundaries of his premises
in excess of the noise levels established in this chapter.
B.
Noise level standards. No person shall emit noise exceeding
the levels stated herein.
|
District In Which Emitter Is Located
|
District In Which Receptor Is Located
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Industrial
(dBA)
|
Commercial
(dBA)
|
Business Zone
(dBA)
|
Office Park
(dBA)
|
Residential Daytime Hours
(dBA)
|
Residential Nighttime Hours
(dBA)
| |
|
Light Industrial
|
70
|
66
|
66
|
66
|
61
|
51
|
|
Commercial
|
62
|
62
|
62
|
62
|
55
|
45
|
|
Business
|
62
|
62
|
62
|
62
|
55
|
35
|
|
Office Park
|
62
|
62
|
62
|
62
|
55
|
45
|
|
Residential
|
62
|
55
|
55
|
55
|
55
|
45
|
C.
Background noise and impulse noise.
(1)
In those individual cases where the background noise
levels caused by sources not subject to this chapter exceed the standards
contained herein, a source shall be considered to cause excessive noise if
the noise emitted by such source exceeds the background noise levels by five
dBA, provided that no source subject to this chapter shall emit noise in excess
of 80 dBA at any time, and provided that this subsection shall not be interpreted
as decreasing the noise level standards of this chapter.
(2)
No person shall cause or allow the emission of impulse
noise in excess of 80 dB peak sound pressure level during nighttime hours.
(3)
No person shall cause or allow the emission of impulse
noise in excess of 100 dB peak sound pressure level at any time.
D.
Short-term noise. In measuring compliance with the noise
level standards, the following short-term noise level excursions over the
noise level standards established by this chapter shall be allowed, and measurements
within these ranges of established standards shall constitute compliance therewith.
|
Allowable Levels Above Standards
(dBA)
|
Time Period of Such Levels
(minutes per hour)
| |
|---|---|---|
|
3
|
15
| |
|
6
|
5
|
E.
Existing noise sources. Existing noise sources constructed
between January 1, 1960, and June 15, 1978, shall be provided a permanent
five-dBA maximum noise level allowance over levels otherwise herein required
regardless of subsequent changes in ownership or facility utilization processes
at the location of the existing noise source. Existing noise sources constructed
prior to 1960 shall be provided a permanent ten-dBA maximum noise level allowance
over levels otherwise herein required regardless of subsequent changes in
ownership or facility utilization processes at the location of the existing
noise source.
F.
Motor vehicle noise.
(1)
All motor vehicles and recreational vehicles operated
within the limits of the Town of Orange shall be subject to the noise standards
and decibel levels as set forth in Section 14-80a-4a of the regulations of
the State of Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, entitled "Allowable
noise levels."
(2)
No sound-amplifying devices on or within motor vehicles
or recreational vehicles shall emit noise in excess of the noise levels as
specified in this chapter.
G.
Existing state law. Nothing in this chapter shall be
construed to limit the powers of the police to enforce applicable state laws,
including, but not limited to, breach of the peace, motor vehicle noise, or
recreational vehicle noise.
The Chief of Police shall enforce the provisions of this chapter upon
the complaint of an affected party or upon the discovery of an on-sight violation
of this chapter.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject
to arrest and prosecution by the proper authorities and may be fined $100
for each offense. Each day in which violation of this chapter shall occur
shall constitute a separate offense.
