It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Town Board to
prevent unreasonable, loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise and to
reduce the noise level within the Town so as to preserve, protect
and promote the public health, safety and welfare and to foster convenience,
peace and quiet within the Town by the inhabitants thereof. The Town
Board finds that every person is entitled to have maintained noise
levels which are not detrimental to life, health and the enjoyment
of property and that excessive and unnecessary noise within the Town
of Onondaga affects and is a menace to public health, safety, welfare
and the comfort of the people of the Town.
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms used herein are
defined as follows:
A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVEL
The sound level in decibels, reported as measured by a sound-level
measuring instrument having an A-weighting network which discriminates
against the lower frequencies according to a relationship approximating
the auditory sensitivity of the human ear. The level so read is designated
"dBA."
DECIBEL (dB)
The practical unit of measurement for sound pressure level;
the number of decibels of a measured sound is equal to 20 times the
logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the sound pressure of the
measured sound to the sound pressure of a standard sound (20 micropascals);
abbreviated "dB."
NOISE
Any sounds of such level and duration as to be or tend to
be injurious to human health or welfare or that would unreasonably
interfere with the enjoyment of life or property.
PROPERTY LINE
Either the imaginary line, including its vertical extension,
that separates one parcel of real property from another or the vertical
and horizontal boundaries of a dwelling unit located within a multi-dwelling-unit
building.
SOUND DEVICE OR APPARATUS
Any apparatus or device for the making, reproduction or amplification
of the human voice or other sounds.
SOUND LEVEL
The sound pressure level measured in decibels with a sound
level meter set for A-weighting; "sound level" is expressed in dBA.
UNNECESSARY
That which is not required by the usual circumstances.
The following sounds shall not be deemed to be a violation of
this chapter:
A. Sounds created by church bells or chimes.
B. Sounds created by any government agency or by the use of public warning
devices.
C. Sounds created by lawn mowers, manual and power tools and household
appliances in use between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., weekdays,
and 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays.
D. Sounds created by carbide cannons, poppers or other scarecrow devices
used by a farmer having not less than 10 acres in crop cultivation
during growing season.
E. Sounds created by public utilities in carrying out the operation
of their franchises.
F. Sounds connected with sporting events of any public organization
or private school or authorized carnival, fair, exhibition, parade,
etc., allowed by permit of the Town Board or any other designated
authority of the Town, provided that noise shall be reduced between
the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
G. Sounds
emanating from property or activities of emergency response organization(s),
including, but not limited to, public and private fire departments,
and ambulance corps, whether during an actual emergency incident,
or while training or testing, including trucks, equipment, sirens,
horns or other devices used in connection with providing emergency
services to the general public.
[Added 3-19-2012 by L.L.
No. 2-2012]
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter
shall be guilty of a violation and shall be punishable by a fine of
not more than $250 or imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both.
This chapter shall be administered and enforced by the Codes Enforcement
Officer of the Town of Onondaga.
L.L. No. 1-1969 of the Town of Onondaga, adopted by the Town
Board on August 20, 1969, and all amendments thereto, is hereby repealed.