When used in this chapter, and future revisions thereto, the
terms below shall have the meanings set forth thereafter. Terms not
defined below shall have the meanings set forth in the regulations
of the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection,
Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA).
CONSTRUCTION
Any and all physical activity at a site necessary or incidental
to the erection, placement, demolition, assembly, altering, blasting,
cleaning, repairing, installing or equipping of buildings or other
structures, public or private highways, roads, accessways, premises,
parks, utility lines or other property, and shall include, but shall
not be limited to, land clearing, grading, excavating, filling and
paving, and site preparation.
CONSTRUCTION-RELATED AND HEAVY MACHINERY
Equipment or heavy machinery that is used for construction,
demolition, loading and off-loading of materials, including, but not
limited to, excavators, bulldozers, backhoes, pile drivers, pneumatic
tools, air compressors, traxcavators or track loaders, wheel loaders,
and volume reduction equipment.
DAYTIME
The hours between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday to Friday;
8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays, state or federal holidays, and
10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Sundays.
DECIBEL
A logarithmic unit of measurement used in determining magnitude
of sound. The symbol is dB.
EMERGENCY
Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or
imminent physical trauma or property damage which demands immediate
action.
EMITTER
Any person who creates, causes to be created or allows the
noise.
EXCESSIVE NOISE
Any sound or disturbance, the intensity of which exceeds
the standards set forth in this chapter.
IMPULSE NOISE
Noise of short duration (generally less than one second)
of high intensity, abrupt onset and rapid decay, and often rapidly
changing composition.
NIGHTTIME
All hours not defined as "daytime."
NOISE LEVEL
The sound pressure level, in decibels, as measured with a
sound level meter, using the A-weighting network. The level so read
is designated dB(A) or dBA.
NONRESIDENTIAL ZONE
Those areas of the Town designated by the Zoning Regulations
of the Town, as they may be from time to time amended, currently:
BPO, B-1, B-2, M-1, M-2A, M-3, M-4, M-5, SDD, HCDD, SHDD, PS and FHAR.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, syndicate,
company, trust, corporation, agency 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 yards, lots, courts, inner yards and real properties,
without buildings or improvements, owned or controlled by a person.
PROPERTY LINE
The 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.
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT
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,
leaf blowers, and the like.
RECEPTOR
A property or parcel of land where sound is heard or received
from another property or parcel of land emitting the sound or noise.
RESIDENTIAL ZONE
Those areas of the Town designated by the Zoning Regulations
of the Town, as they may be from time to time amended, currently:
R-1/2, R-1, R-2, R-3, EH-10, CA.
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, auditory
response when impinging on the ear.
SOUND LEVEL METER
An instrument to take sound level measurements and which
should conform, at a minimum, to the operational specifications of
the American National Standards Institute for Sound Level Meters.
This chapter shall not apply to noise emitted by or related
to:
A. The unamplified human voice.
B. A bell or chime from any building clock, school or church.
C. Sound created by a public emergency sound signal attached to an authorized emergency vehicle in the immediate act of responding to an emergency, as authorized by Subsection
(d) of Section 14-80 and Section 14-1a of Chapter 246 of the General Statutes and all amendments
thereto, or located within or attached to a building, pole or other
structure for the purpose of sounding an alarm relating to fire or
civil preparedness; provided, however, that no person shall cause,
suffer, allow or permit the operation of any intrusion alarm which,
from time of activation of audible signal, emits noise for a period
of time exceeding 10 minutes when attached to any vehicle, or 30 minutes
when attached to any building or structure. The repetition of activation
of the audible signal of an intrusion alarm due to malfunction, lack
of proper maintenance, or lack of reasonable care shall not be permitted
hereunder.
D. Noises created by snow removal equipment at any time shall be exempted,
provided that such equipment shall be maintained in good repair so
as to minimize noise, and noise discharged from exhausts shall be
adequately muffled to prevent loud and/or explosive noises therefrom.
E. Activities specifically licensed or sanctioned by or under permit
of the Town, including, but not limited to, municipal parades, fireworks,
historical reenactments, concerts and sporting events.
F. Noise generated by engine-powered or motor-driven lawn care or maintenance
equipment shall be exempted between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00
p.m., provided that noise discharged from exhausts is adequately muffled
to prevent loud and/or explosive noises therefrom.
G. Construction equipment, while engaged in premises construction, between
7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., from Monday through Friday, and between 9:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, for a reasonable duration, as determined
by the Town Building Department.
H. State or municipally authorized and licensed drilling or blasting
between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
I. FAA preempted aircraft flights.
J. Home and commercial generators during periods of lost power.
K. Nighttime public road maintenance and line painting.
L. Actions necessitated by an emergency.
M. Warning devices required by OSHA or other state or federal safety
regulations.
N. Farming equipment or farming activity, as defined in §
1-1 and qualified as tax exempt under § 12-91 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
Acoustic measurements and equipment to ascertain compliance
with, or violation of, this chapter shall be in substantial conformity
with the standards and practices established by professional organizations
such as the American National Standards Institute. Instruments shall
be of standard design, properly calibrated and maintained for the
purposes of noise regulation. Instruments shall conform, at a minimum,
to the standards of the American National Standards Institute for
sound level meters.