[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Greenport 7-1-2020 by L.L. No. 1-2020.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed former Ch. 90, Noise, adopted 12-15-1976 by Ord. No. 1-1976, as amended.
A. 
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Town to prevent excessive, unnecessary or unusually loud noises. It is further declared that the provisions and prohibitions hereinafter contained and enacted are in pursuance of and for the purpose of preserving, protecting and promoting the public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare and prosperity and the peace and quiet of the Town and its inhabitants. It is the public policy of the Town that every person is entitled to ambient noise levels that are not detrimental to life, health and enjoyment of his or her property. It is hereby declared that the making, creation or maintenance of excessive or unreasonable noises within the Town affects and is a menace to public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare and the prosperity of the people of the Town.
B. 
This chapter shall be construed so as to effectuate the purposes described in this section. Nothing herein shall be construed to inhibit the emergency powers of any Town department or the right of such department to engage in any necessary or proper activities. Nothing herein shall inhibit the powers and responsibilities of any police department or law enforcement agency to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CONSTRUCTION
Any activity necessary or incidental to the erection, demolition, assembling, altering, installing or equipping of buildings, public or private highways, roads, premises, parks, utility lanes or other property, including, but not limited to, related activities, such as land clearing, grading, earthmoving, excavating, blasting, filling and landscaping, but not including agriculture.
CONTINUOUS SOUND
Any sound that is not impulse sound.
EMERGENCY
Any occurrence or circumstances involving actual or imminent physical or property damage which demands immediate action.
IMPULSIVE SOUND
Sound characterized by either a single pressure peak or a single burst (multiple pressure peaks) having a duration of less than one second.
SOUND REPRODUCTIVE DEVICE
Any device that is designed to be used or is actually used for the production or reproduction of sound, including, but not limited to, any amplified musical instrument, radio, television, tape recorder, phonograph, loudspeaker, public address system or any other sound-amplifying device.
UNREASONABLE NOISE
A. 
Any excessive or unusually loud sound or any sound which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of a reasonable person of normal sensibilities, or which causes injury to animal life or damage to property or business.
B. 
Standards to be considered in determining whether unreasonable noise exists in a given situation include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) 
The intensity of the noise;
(2) 
Whether the nature of the noise is usual or unusual;
(3) 
Whether the origin of the noise is natural or unnatural;
(4) 
The intensity of the background noise;
(5) 
The proximity of the noise to sleeping facilities;
(6) 
The nature and the zoning district of the area within which the noise emanates;
(7) 
The time of the day or night the noise occurs;
(8) 
The duration of the noise;
(9) 
Whether the sound source is temporary;
(10) 
Whether the noise is continuous or intermittent; and/or
(11) 
Whether alternate methods are available to achieve the objectives of the sound-producing activity.
C. 
Unreasonable noise emanating from private property shall be measured or determined at the adjoining property line or, in the case of a multiple residence, within the adjoining or adjacent apartment or hallway. Unreasonable noise emanating from public property shall be measured or determined at a distance of 50 feet or more from the sound source, at the adjoining property line or, in the case of a multiple residence, within the adjoining or adjacent apartment or hallway, whichever is closer.
VEHICLE
Includes any automobile, motorcycle, truck, tractor trailer, recreational vehicle, all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile.
No person shall make, continue or cause or permit to be made any unreasonable noise. The following acts set forth in § 90-4 herein are declared to be prima facie evidence of a violation of this Chapter 90 and are prohibited, but said enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive.
The following acts and the causing thereof are declared to be loud, disturbing and unreasonable noises in violation of this chapter, but the enumeration herein shall not be deemed to be exclusive:
A. 
Horns and signaling devices.
(1) 
The sounding of any horn or other signal device on any automobile, motorcycle, bus or other vehicle while stationary that creates any unreasonable noise, except as a danger signal when an approaching vehicle is apparently out of control or, if in motion, only as a danger signal after or as brakes are being applied and deceleration of the vehicle is intended; or
(2) 
The creation by means of any such signal device of any unreasonably loud or harsh sound or the sounding of any such device for an unnecessary period of time in such a manner as to create unreasonable noise.
B. 
Noisy vehicles. No person shall:
(1) 
Use an automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle so out of repair, so loaded or in such a manner as to create unreasonable noise from loud, unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling or other noise;
(2) 
Operate any vehicle in such a manner as to cause unreasonable noise by spinning or squealing the tires or revving the motor of such vehicle; or
(3) 
Unreasonable noise created by modifying or causing to be modified the muffler, exhaust system or other noise-control device of any vehicle in a manner that will increase the noise emitted by such vehicle above that emitted by the vehicle when newly manufactured regardless of the date of the manufacture. The noise-control devices of any vehicle operated in the Town shall be maintained and in good working order. No person shall operate or permit to be operated a vehicle where the muffler, exhaust system or other noise-control device has been so modified or has not been maintained.
C. 
Recreational vehicles, including snowmobiles. No person shall operate or permit to be operated any motor-powered recreational vehicle not licensed for operation on public streets pursuant to the Vehicle and Traffic Law in such a manner as to create unreasonable noise.
D. 
Discharge of exhaust. No person shall cause or permit the discharge into the open air of the exhaust of any device, including, but not limited to, any steam engine, diesel engine, internal combustion engine or turbine engine, so as to create unreasonable noise.
E. 
Construction, demolition and excavation. The creation of unreasonable noise resulting from the erection, including excavation, demolition, alteration or repair of any building other than on weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., except in case of an urgent necessity in the interest of public safety. Unreasonable noise resulting from these activities is expressly prohibited from occurring on weekends or holidays.
F. 
Noise near school and other institutions. The creation of any unreasonable noise on any street or property adjacent to any school, institution of learning, church or court, while the same is in session, or adjacent to any hospital, provided that conspicuous signs are displayed in such street or on such property indicating that the same is a school, hospital, church or court street.
G. 
Loading and unloading. The creation of any unreasonable noise in connection with loading or unloading any vehicle or the opening and destruction of bales, boxes, crates and containers.
H. 
Hawking and peddling. The creation of any unreasonable noise in connection with shouting and crying of peddlers, hawkers and vendors.
I. 
Drums, loudspeakers and similar devices. The creation of any unreasonable noise in connection with the use of a drum, loudspeaker, instrument or any other sound reproductive device for the purpose of attracting public attention by the creation of noise.
J. 
Sound reproduction. The creation of any unreasonable noise in connection with any person operating, playing or permitting the operation or playing of any sound reproduction device, including, but not limited to, a radio, television, phonograph, drum, musical instrument, sound amplifier or similar device which produces, reproduces or amplifies sound as to produce unreasonable noise, except for activities open to the public or for the public benefit and for which a specific permit has been granted by the Town.
K. 
Animals. No person shall keep, permit or maintain any animal under his control that causes unreasonable noise which may result from continued barking, howling or other animal noises.
L. 
Shouting. No person shall shout, yell, call, hoot, whistle or sing on public streets or in public places in such a manner and for a period of time as to create unreasonable noise under the circumstances.
M. 
Noise from tools, machinery and heavy equipment in the construction, repair or alteration of property. The creation of any unreasonable noise in connection with the use of domestic or industrial tools, machinery and equipment of any kind in construction, repair or alteration of property, resulting in loud grinding, hammering, sawing and similar noise other than on weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., except in the case of urgent necessity in the interest of public safety. Unreasonable noise resulting from these activities is expressly prohibited from occurring on weekends or holidays.
N. 
Noise in the conduct of any business. The creation of unreasonable noise in the operation, conduct and/or maintenance of any business, factory, plant yard or manufacturing establishment (except as otherwise provided in this chapter), including, but not limited to, excavation, blasting, grinding, breaking, crushing or processing of any substance (where permitted).
O. 
Dormitories, private clubs, meeting halls and private residences. The creation of any unreasonable noise in connection with parties, entertainment, music or social gatherings of any kind, whether public or private, any day between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., inside or outside any residence, regardless of whether the windows of such residence are open, or at any other time if said noise is unreasonable noise.
P. 
Impulsive sound levels. The creation of any impulsive sound levels that are repeated, including, but not limited to, shooting of a firearm on private property or use of air cannons or other machinery, so as to create unreasonable noise. The use of air cannons and other similar firing devices for agricultural uses shall be limited to use from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and shall be directed away from residences.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
A. 
Sound and vibration emitted for the purpose of alerting people in an emergency.
B. 
Sound and vibration emitted in the performance of correcting an emergency.
C. 
Sounds created by church bells or chimes, when a part of a religious observance or service.
D. 
Sounds created by any government agency by the use of public warning devices.
E. 
Sound from snowblowers, snow throwers, and snowplows when operated with a muffler for the purpose of snow removal.
F. 
Sound from a burglar alarm of any building or residence, provided such burglar alarm shall terminate its operation within five minutes after it has been activated.
G. 
Sound generated by municipality-sponsored concerts and events designed to promote the health, safety or welfare of the citizens of the Town.
H. 
Sporting events and other events held on Town-owned property.
In those cases of unreasonable noise, the person or persons responsible shall be advised of any conduct prohibited herein by the police, the Code Enforcement Officer, or any Town officer authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter. After such warning, if any party shall continue or repeat said conduct or similar conduct, such party shall be in violation of this chapter.
If any party shall knowingly violate the provisions of this chapter or engage in conduct in violation of this chapter, he shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both. Each incidence of any violation of a provision herein shall constitute a separate offense.
A. 
The noise-control requirements established by this chapter shall be administered and enforced jointly by the Town Code Enforcement Officer and/or any peace officer, police officer or law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction in the Town of Greenport.
B. 
Violation of any provision of this chapter shall be cause for a summons to be issued.