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, safety or welfare or degrade
the quality of their lives. This chapter is enacted to protect, preserve
and promote the health, safety, welfare and quality of life for the
citizens of the City of Meriden through the reduction, control and
prevention of noise.
When used in this chapter, the terms below shall
have the following meanings:
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.
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of Police of the City of Meriden or a duly authorized
officer subject to his/her order.
COMMERCIAL ZONE
Those areas designated as commercial districts in Chapter
213, Zoning, of the City Code.
CONSTRUCTION
The assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration, demolition
or site preparation for or of public or private rights-of-way, buildings
or other structures, utilities or property.
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
Any equipment or device operated by fuel or electric power
used on construction or demolition.
CONTINUOUS NOISE
Ongoing noise, the intensity of which remains at a measurable
level (which may vary) without interruption over an indefinite period
or a specified period of time.
DAYTIME HOURS
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.
DECIBEL
A unit of measure of the sound level, the symbol for which
is "dB."
DEMOLITION
Any dismantling, intentional destruction or removal of structures,
utilities, public or private right-of-way surfaces or similar property.
DOMESTIC POWER EQUIPMENT
Equipment including, but not limited to, power saws, drills,
grinders, lawn and garden tools and equipment and other power equipment
intended for use in a residential area by a homeowner.
EMERGENCY
Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or
imminent physical trauma or property damage which demands immediate
action.
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle authorized by any local authority to have
sound warning devices, such as sirens and bells, which can lawfully
be used when responding to an emergency.
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 changes.
IMPULSE NOISE
Sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with
an abrupt onset and rapid decay, the level of which is measured with
a sound-level meter, which shall conform to ANSI S127-1986 (R1993).
INDUSTRIAL ZONE
Those areas designated as industrial districts in Chapter
213, Zoning, of the City Code.
INTRUSION ALARM
A device with an audible signal and which, when activated,
indicates an intrusion by an unauthorized person.
LEGAL HOLIDAY
All legal holidays designated by the City of Meriden, the
State of Connecticut and the United States of America.
MOTOR VEHICLE
A vehicle as defined in § 14-1(51) of the Connecticut
General Statutes, as amended.
MUFFLER
A device for abating sounds such as escaping gas.
NIGHTTIME HOURS
The hours between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday evening
through Saturday morning, between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. Saturday
evening through Sunday morning, and between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Monday through Friday.
NOISE
Any sound, the intensity of which exceeds the standards as
set forth in this chapter.
NOISE LEVEL
The sound-pressure level as measured with a sound-level meter.
NOISE LEVEL, A-WEIGHTED
The sound-pressure level as measured with a sound-level meter
using the A-weighting network. The sound level is designated "dBA."
OCTAVE BAND SOUND-PRESSURE LEVEL
The sound-pressure level for the sound contained within the
specified preferred octave band stated in dB, as described in ANSI
81.6-1984 (R 1994).
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, syndicate,
company, trust, corporation, municipality, agency or administration
subdivision of the state or other legal entity of any kind.
PREMISES
Any building, structure, land or portion thereof, including
all appurtenances, owned or controlled by a person, and including
yards, lots, courts, inner yards and real properties without buildings
or improvements, owned or controlled by a person. A noise 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 and controlled by
another person and which 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 government entity, over which the public in general has a right
of passage.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
Any nonregistered, internal-combustion-engine-powered vehicle
which is being used for recreational purposes.
RESIDENTIAL ZONE
Those areas so designated in the Zoning Regulations of the
City of Meriden.
SOUND
A transmission of energy through solid, liquid or gaseous
media in the form of vibrations which constitute alteration in pressure
or position of 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 ANALYZER
A device generally used in conjunction with a sound-level
meter for measuring the sound-pressure level of a noise as a function
of frequency, expressed in hertz (Hz) in octave bands, one-third octave
bands or other standard ranges. The sound analyzer shall conform,
at a minimum, to Type E, Class II, as specified in ANSI 8I.11-1986
(R 1993).
SOUND-LEVEL METER
An instrument used to measure sound levels. A sound-level
meter shall conform, at a minimum, to the American National Standards
Institute operation specifications for sound-level meters SI. 4-1983
(R 1994).
SOUND-PRESSURE LEVEL (SPL)
Equals 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio
of the sound pressure in question to the standard reference pressure
of 20 micro pascals expressed in decibel (dB) units.
VIBRATION
An oscillary motion of sound bodies of deterministic or random
nature described by displacement, velocity, or acceleration with respect
to a given reference point.
For the purpose of determining noise levels
as set forth in this chapter, the following guidelines shall be applicable:
A. A person conducting sound measurement shall be trained
in the current techniques and principles of sound measuring equipment
and instrumentation.
B. Instruments used to determine sound-level measurement
shall be sound-level meters and analyzers as defined by this chapter.
C. The following steps should 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) If using a sound-level meter, it shall be calibrated
before and after each set of measurements.
(3) If using a sound-level meter, it shall be placed at
an angle from the sound source as specified by the manufacturer's
instructions and at least four feet above the ground. It shall be
placed at that location so as not to be interfered with by individuals
conducting measurements.
(4) Measurements to determine compliance with §
141-5 shall be taken at a point that is located more or less than one foot beyond the property line of the noise emitter's premises and within the noise receptor's premises.
(5) While measurements are being recorded, a continual
visual and aural surveillance of extraneous sound sources shall be
made to ensure that the measurements are due to the sound being investigated.
The sound levels of extraneous sound sources shall be recorded.
(6) The intentional moving or rendering inaccurate or
inoperative of any sound-monitoring device or instrument positioned
or used by or for the City of Meriden, provided that such device or
the immediate area is clearly labeled to warn of the potential illegality,
shall be a violation of this chapter.
Noise zones within the City of Meriden shall
be classified as to zoning applicable for the parcel or tract of land
and the surrounding parcels or tracts. Noise zones specified herein
shall correspond to the following zoning descriptions in the Zoning
Regulations and Zoning Map of the City of Meriden:
Zone
|
Actual or Intended Use
|
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Class A
|
Residential
|
Class B
|
Commercial
|
Class C
|
Industrial
|
NOTE: Based on the Zoning Regulations and Zoning
Map of the City of Meriden.
|
The following activities are prohibited:
A. Motor vehicle noise. All motor vehicles operated within
the limits of the City of Meriden shall be subject to the noise standards
and decibel levels set forth in the regulations authorized in § 14-80a
of the Connecticut General Statutes.
B. Motor vehicle sound-amplifying devices. No sound-amplifying devices on or within motor vehicles shall emit noise in excess of the noise levels as specified in §
141-5 of this chapter.
C. Unregistered recreational vehicle noise. No person shall create or cause to be created any unreasonably loud or disturbing noise due to the operation of an unregistered recreational vehicle. A noise shall be deemed to be unreasonably loud and a violation of this chapter when the noise so generated exceeds the noise level standards set forth in §
141-5.
All provisions of the Zoning Regulations of
the City of Meriden which are more stringent than those set forth
herein shall remain in force. If, for any reason, any word, clause,
paragraph or section of this chapter shall be held to make the same
unconstitutional or be superseded by any state law or regulation,
this chapter shall not thereby be invalidated, and the remainder of
this chapter shall continue in effect. Any provision herein which
is in conflict with the Connecticut General Statutes, the Connecticut
Department of Environmental Protection regulations or the Public Health
Code of the State of Connecticut is hereby repealed, it being understood
that the statutes and code shall take precedence over this chapter.