The title of this chapter shall be the "Town
of Guilford Noise Control Ordinance."
The policy of the state under C.G.S. § 22a-67
is to promote an environment free from noise that jeopardizes the
health and welfare of the citizens. It is recognized that people have
a right to and should be ensured an environment free from excessive
sound and vibration that may jeopardize their health or safety or
welfare or degrade the quality of life. This chapter is enacted to
protect, preserve and promote the health, safety, welfare and quality
of life for the citizens of Guilford through reduction, control and
prevention of noise.
The following definitions shall apply in the
interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:
AMBIENT NOISE or BACKGROUND NOISE
Noise of a measurable intensity which exists at a point as
a result of a combination of many distant sources individually indistinguishable.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Guilford or a duly
authorized officer.
COMMERCIAL ZONE
As defined and set forth in Article II of Chapter
273, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Guilford and all associated uses therewith, either permitted as a right or as a special use.
CONSTRUCTION
Any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair,
alteration or similar action, for or of public or private rights-of-way,
structures, utilities or similar properties, but excluding demolition.
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
Any equipment or device operated by any fuel or electric
power used in construction or demolition work.
DAYTIME HOURS
The hours between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., Monday through
Saturday, and the hours 9:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. on Sundays.
DECIBEL
A logarithmic unit of measure in measuring magnitudes or
sound; the symbol "dB."
DEMOLITION
Any dismantling, intentional destruction or removal of structures,
utilities, public or private right-of-way surfaces or similar properties.
DOMESTIC POWER EQUIPMENT
Including but not limited to power saws, drills, grinders,
lawn and garden tools and other domestic power equipment intended
for use in residential areas by a homeowner.
EMERGENCY
Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or
perceived imminent physical trauma or property damage which demands
immediate action.
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle authorized by the State of Connecticut
to have sound warning devices, such as sirens and bells, which can
lawfully be used when responding to an emergency. (C.G.S. § 14-283).
EMERGENCY WORK
Work made necessary to restore property to a safe condition
following an emergency or work required to protect persons or property
from exposure to imminent danger.
IMPULSE NOISE
Sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with
an abrupt onset and rapid decay.
INDUSTRIAL ZONE
As defined and set forth in Article II of Chapter
273, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Guilford and all uses associated therewith, either permitted as a right or as a special use.
MUFFLER
A device for abating sounds such as escaping gases.
NIGHTTIME HOURS
The hours between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Sunday evening
through Saturday morning, except that "night" shall mean the hours
between 10:00 p.m. Saturday and 9:00 a.m. Sunday.
NOISE
Any sound, the intensity of which exceeds the standards set forth on §
208-5B of this chapter.
NOISE LEVEL
The sound pressure level as measured with a sound level meter
using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated "db(A)"
or "dBA."
PERSON
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.
PREMISES
Any building, structure, land or portion thereof, including
all appurtenances, and shall include yards, lots, courts, inner yards
and real properties without buildings or improvements owned or controlled
by a person. The emitter's premises includes contiguous publicly dedicated
street and highway rights-of-way, all road rights-of-way and waters
of the state.
PROPERTY LINE
That real or imaginary line along the ground surface and
its vertical extension which separates real property owned or controlled
by any person from contiguous real property owned or controlled by
another person and separates real property from the public right-of-way.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
Any street, avenue, boulevard, highway, sidewalk, alley,
park, waterway, railroad or similar place which is owned or controlled
by a governmental entity.
RESIDENTIAL ZONE
Those residential districts as defined and set forth in Article II of Chapter
273, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Guilford and all uses associated therewith, either permitted as a right or as a special use.
SOUND
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.
SOUND-LEVEL METER
An instrument used to take sound-level measurements and which
should conform, as a minimum, to the operational specifications of
the American National Standards Institute for Sound Level Meters S1.4
- 1971 (Type S2A).
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL
Twenty times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of
the pressure of a sound to the reference pressure of 20 micronewtons
per square meter and is expressed in decibels (dB).
For the purpose of determining noise levels
as set forth in this chapter, the following guidelines shall be applicable:
A. All personnel conducting sound measurements shall
be trained in the current techniques and principles of sound-measuring
equipment and instrumentation.
B. Instruments used to determine sound-level measurements
shall conform to the sound-level meters as defined by this chapter.
C. The general steps listed below shall be followed 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) The sound-level meter shall be calibrated before and
after each set of measurements.
(3) When measurements are taken out-of-doors, a wind screen
shall be placed over the microphone of the sound-level meter as per
the manufacturer's instruction.
(4) The sound-level meter shall be placed at an angle
to the sound source as specified by the manufacturer's instructions
and at least four feet above the ground. It shall be so placed as
not to be interfered with by individuals conducting the measurements.
(5) Measurements shall be taken at the point that is located
about one foot beyond the boundary of the emitter's premises within
the receptor's premises. The emitter's premises includes his/her individual
unit of land or group of contiguous parcels under the same ownership
as indicated by public land records.
All refuse collectors shall comply with the
noise level standards as established in this chapter while engaging
in refuse collection at each location. For purposes of this chapter,
the term "refuse collectors" shall be synonymous with private haulers
and all other persons that commercially engage in the collection and
transportation of refuse and other debris.