In this chapter, the following words and phrases have the following
meanings:
CONSTRUCTION
Temporary activities directly associated with site preparation,
assembly, erection, repair, alteration, or demolition of structures
or roadways.
CONTINUOUS NOISE
A continuous sound level that has duration of more than one
second. "Continuous noise" may include but is not limited to the following:
amplified music or voice, unamplified music or voice, horn or signaling
device from nonemergency vehicles, leaf blowers, wood chippers, chain
saws, landscaping equipment, construction equipment, vacuums, or a
howling dog.
DAYTIME
The hours from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays or any hours permitted
by the Director of Inspectional Services in the event of an emergency.
dBA
The abbreviation designating the unit of sound level as measured
by a high precision grade sound-level meter using A-weighting.
Db or DECIBEL
A unit of measure equal to 10 times the logarithm to the
base 10 of the ratio of a particular sound pressure squared to the
standard reference pressure squared. For this chapter, the standard
reference pressure is 20 micropascals.
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Inspectional Services.
DIRECTOR
The Director of Inspectional Services or the Director's authorized
designee.
HIGH PRECISION INSTRUMENT
A meter used to measure sound meeting the standards of ANSI,
as they may be amended from time to time.
IMPULSIVE NOISE
Either a single pressure peak or a single burst (multiple
pressure peaks) that has a duration of less than one second. "Impulsive
noise" may include but is not limited to the following: noise from
weapons fire, pile drivers, punch presses, a barking dog, or loading,
unloading, opening, closing, or otherwise handling containers.
NIGHTTIME
The hours from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. weekdays and 5:00 p.m.
to 9:00 a.m. weekends and holidays.
NOISE
Sound, including sounds emanating from any and all sources,
irrespective of the source or sources, heard by an individual or captured
by a sound recording/measuring device.
NOISE DISTURBANCE REQUIRING ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY
Any noise that is:
A.
Unpleasant, annoying, offensive, loud or obnoxious;
B.
Unusual for the time of day or location where it is produced
or heard; or
C.
Detrimental to the health, comfort, or safety of any individual
or to the reasonable enjoyment of property or the lawful conduct of
business because of the loudness, duration, or character of the noise.
NOISE-SUPPRESSION PLAN
A written plan to use the most effective noise-suppression
equipment, materials, and methods appropriate and reasonably available
for a particular type of construction.
NONRESIDENTIAL NOISE AREA
Refers to Business A, B and C and Industrial A and B Zoning Districts as defined by Chapter
375, Zoning, of Quincy's Municipal Code.
PERSON
An individual, group of individuals, corporation, firm, partnership,
or voluntary association, or a department, bureau, agency, or instrument
of the county or any municipality, or of any other government to the
extent allowed by law.
RECEIVING PROPERTY or RECEIVING NOISE AREA
Any location on real property where people live or work and
where noise can be heard, including an apartment, condominium unit,
or cooperative building unit, including attached balconies.
RESIDENTIAL NOISE AREA
Refers to Residence A, B and C and PUD Zoning Districts as defined by Chapter
375, Zoning, of Quincy's Municipal Code.
[Amended 6-1-2020 by Order
No. 2020-012]
This chapter does not apply to:
A. Residential landscaping equipment maintained in accordance with the
manufacturer's specifications.
B. Emergency operations by fire and rescue services, police agencies,
or public utilities and their contractors.
C. A source or condition expressly subject to any state or federal noise
control law or regulation that is more stringent than this chapter.
D. Sound, not electronically amplified, created between 7:00 a.m. and
11:00 p.m. by sports, amusements, or entertainment events or other
public gatherings operating according to the requirements of the appropriate
permit or licensing authority. This includes athletic contests, carnivals,
fairgrounds, parades, band and orchestra activities, and public celebrations,
except in areas designated noise-sensitive areas.
E. Noise sources associated with routine residential living during daytime
hours, such as home workshops, power tools, and power lawn and garden
equipment, when used in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
This exception does not apply to repairs or maintenance on a motor
vehicle that is not registered for use on public roads and/or amplified
sound originating from a home entertainment system, television, stereo
or similar electronic device.
F. Boats operated in accordance with manufacturer specifications.