[Ord. 1988, 4/16/2012, Section 1]
a. 
Title. This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "State College Noise Abatement Ordinance."
b. 
Purpose and Intent. Changes in air conditioning technology have resulted in the introduction of new types of large air conditioning units. These new types of units, which typically use screw or scroll type compressors, operate at higher pressure and are more economical than older units. These efficiencies will lead to the increased use of these newer technologies in the larger unit applications that service commercial buildings and apartment buildings.
An undesirable by-product of the operation of these units is the emission of a high frequency noise that is qualitatively different from earlier technology air conditioners. The distance that this noise carries is considerable and often varies with time of day and weather conditions. Because this high-frequency noise carries considerable distances, is often continuous or semi-continuous in nature, and fluctuates in loudness and pitch, it can be extremely annoying when "plainly audible" even though its decibel level may not be high.
Furthermore, the magnitude and characteristics of the noise emitted by these units varies by type, model, location, and/or installation. While some units may operate in a manner that does not disturb neighborhood residents, other units produce noise that is "plainly audible" beyond the property boundary. This noise can be particularly annoying during nighttime hours when persons are attempting to sleep, but cannot because of the magnitude and characteristics of the sound emitted. Under these circumstances such noise is a nuisance and constitutes a "noise disturbance" as defined in the noise ordinance.
Therefore, the purpose of this section is to require noise abatement devices to be installed and or techniques used when the noise emitted from these units is "plainly audible" beyond the property boundary and causes a noise disturbance. The type and location of abatement devices required and or techniques used shall be based on the application of "best engineering practices" for sound mitigation techniques as established by acoustical and mechanical experts in their respective fields. The approach used is to achieve abatement by requiring the simplest and least expensive techniques, as recommended by experts in the field, to be employed first. Additional mitigation techniques shall be required to the extent that is reasonable when the initial response (step) fails to abate the noise disturbance. It is recognized that in some situations total abatement of noise beyond the property line cannot be reasonably achieved. In such circumstances, the intention is to reduce the noise emitted beyond the property line to the greatest extent that is reasonably feasible by applying "best engineering practices." It is implicit that best engineering practice relies on the judgment of experts in the field to determine how much noise mitigation is feasible within the bounds of reasonable cost and effort.
[Ord. 1988, 4/16/2012, Section 2]
Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context clearly indicates a different intention, the following terms have the following meanings. Definitions of technical terms used in this chapter which are not herein defined shall be obtained from publications of acoustical terminology issued by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI):
BOROUGH
The Borough of State College, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
NOISE
Any sound emitted by a person, an appliance, equipment, instrument, other device or an animal other than a barking dog.
NOISE DISTURBANCE
Those unlawful noises prohibited in Chapter V, Part A, that have been deemed to disturb the comfort, repose or peace of others within the Borough.
PERSON
An individual, firm, association, organization, partnership, trust, company, corporation or any other similar entity.
PLAINLY AUDIBLE
Any sound that can be detected by a person of normal sensibilities using his or her unaided hearing facilities.
PROPERTY BOUNDARY
An imaginary line along the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one person from that owned by another person, but not including intra-building real property divisions.
SOUND
Something audible: something that can be heard; vibrations sensed by ear: vibrations traveling through air, water, or some other medium, especially those within the range of frequencies that can be perceived by the human ear. The description of sound may include any characteristic of such sound, including duration, intensity and frequency.
UNREASONABLE NOISE
Sound that is of a volume, frequency, or pattern that prevents, disrupts, injures, or endangers the health, safety, welfare, prosperity, comfort or repose of reasonable persons of ordinary sensitivities within the Borough of State College, given the time of day, day of week, location, and/or other relevant factors in which and where the sound is made.
[Ord. 1988, 4/16/2012, Section 3]
a. 
Abatement as required by this subsection is applicable to all air conditioners, ventilation, heating units, and similar devices of eight tons or greater heating or cooling capacity that have been installed or first routinely operated on or after January 1, 2000.
(1) 
When such units emit noise that is "plainly audible" beyond the property boundary and such noise causes a noise disturbance, noise abatement devices shall be installed and or techniques used in accordance with the procedures prescribed in Subsection d. to the extent necessary to cause abatement. The type and location of abatement devices required and or techniques used shall be based on the application of "best engineering practices" for sound mitigation techniques as recommended by acoustical and mechanical experts in their respective fields.
(2) 
Abatement shall be deemed to occur when either (a) the noise disturbance is eliminated or, (b) where in the judgment of experts in the field the noise cannot be further reduced except at prohibitive or unreasonable cost and the noise emitted beyond the property boundary has been reduced to the extent that is reasonably feasible using "best engineering practices" for sound mitigation.
(3) 
Upon complaint from a resident that the noise is a nuisance and upon verification by the Borough of State College that such noise is "plainly audible" and disturbing, the Borough shall send the landowner written notice that the noise is plainly audible beyond the property line and is causing a nuisance by disturbing persons and is therefore deemed to be a "noise disturbance." Upon receiving the notice, it shall be the landowner's duty to provide a noise abatement plan to the Borough of State College that is based on "best engineering practices" for sound mitigation and to install noise abatement devices on or before the compliance dates as established in the notice.
(4) 
It shall be a violation of this ordinance to operate air conditioners or other units as described above beyond the compliance date without having employed abatement devices and or techniques based on "best engineering practices" sound mitigation techniques that actually eliminated the noise disturbance or are otherwise designed to reduce the noise emitted beyond the property boundary to the greatest extent that is reasonably feasible.
b. 
Content of Written Notice. The written notice shall at a minimum state the following:
(1) 
The name of the owner of record and any other person or entity against whom the Borough intends to take action.
(2) 
The location of the property in violation.
(3) 
A description of the violation and the citation of the applicable provisions in the ordinance.
(4) 
The date before which a Noise Mitigation Plan shall be submitted to the Borough of State College.
(5) 
The date before which initial abatement devices and or techniques shall be employed.
(6) 
The final date before which abatement shall occur.
c. 
Procedure for Abatement.
(1) 
A Noise Mitigation Plan prepared by a licensed acoustical or mechanical engineer with working knowledge of "best engineering practices" for sound mitigation techniques shall be submitted to the Borough of State College within 45 days of receipt of the written notice.
(2) 
The plan shall describe in detail the types of devices and or techniques based on "best engineering practices" for sound mitigation that can be employed to abate the noise disturbance and shall set forth a schedule that describes and recommends which approach to use first followed by additional recommendations of sound mitigation techniques to be pursued should the initial devices or techniques as recommended fail to abate the noise disturbance. The plan shall also provide the estimated cost of employing the various mitigation devices and or techniques recommended.
(3) 
Upon review of the plan, the Borough shall communicate in writing to the landowner either authorization to proceed with the sound mitigation techniques as described and recommended in the plan or shall require modification of the plan.
(4) 
Once authorized by the Borough, abatement devices or techniques described and recommended in the plan shall be installed within 30 days following authorization unless extended by the Borough for just cause.
(5) 
Should the initial abatement devices and or techniques used and relied upon fail to abate the noise disturbance, the landowner shall follow the schedule and pursue other recommended abatement techniques, as needed, until abatement is effected to the extent that is feasible within the bounds of reasonable cost and effort.
(6) 
Any contention that the noise emitted beyond the property line cannot be further mitigated after having pursued reasonable means to do so as described and recommended in the noise mitigation plan shall be documented by experts in the field. The Borough of State College shall consider with great weight expert opinion and the documentation in judging reasonableness and whether further mitigation is feasible and therefore warranted.
d. 
Right to Enter and Inspect. Enforcement officers, as designated by the Borough Manager, and associated technical advisors, shall have the right to enter the property to determine if "best engineering practices" for noise mitigation techniques have been properly applied. Failure to allow entry after receiving proper notice from the Borough of State College shall be deemed a violation of this ordinance.
[Ord. 1988, 4/16/2012, Section 4]
The provisions of this ordinance are not intended to interfere with, abrogate or annul other rules, regulations or ordinances, including Title 18 (Crimes Code) and Title 75 (Vehicle Code), Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. If more stringent requirements concerning noise abatement are contained in the other rules, regulations or ordinances, the more stringent regulation shall apply.
[Ord. 1988, 4/16/2012, Section 5]
a. 
Any person found guilty of violating provisions of this ordinance, shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 for the first offense, and not less than $600 nor more than $1,000 for the second offense, and $1,000 for the third and subsequent offense in any one-hundred-eighty-day period and, upon failure to pay such fine, shall be sentenced to jail for a term not to exceed 30 days for each offense.
b. 
A penalty provided for under this ordinance may be imposed in addition to any penalty that may be imposed for any other criminal offense arising from the same conduct.
c. 
Each act of violation and every day upon which such violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.
[Ord. 1988, 4/16/2012, Section 6]
The provisions of this ordinance shall be enforced by Borough Police Officers, Borough Ordinance Enforcement Officers, and others designated by the Borough Manager.
[Ord. 1988, 4/16/2012, Section 7]
A temporary waiver from strict compliance with the noise standards specified herein may be granted to persons for emergencies, as determined by the Borough Manager, to protect health and safety or to comply with other lawful rules, regulations and ordinances.
[Ord. 1988, 4/16/2012, Section 8]
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, word, or other portion of this ordinance is, for any reason, held to be unconstitutional or invalid, in whole, or in part, by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed severable, and such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance, which remaining portions shall continue in full force and effect.