[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 12-46; Ord. of 6-20-1990; Ord. of 3-18-1992; Ord. of 4-6-2005(3), § 12-46]
(a) 
With the exception of sound levels elsewhere specifically authorized or allowed in this chapter, the following are the maximum permissible sound levels allowed at or within the real property boundary of a receiving land use:
Noise Table I
Sound Levels by Receiving Land and Penalties for Violating Levels
Location of Receiving Land
Time
Sound Limit
(dBA)
Penalty
Category I:
Residential A Zone
Residential B Zone
Residential C Zone
Residential C/Mixed Use Zone
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
65 dBA
Up to $200
9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
55 dBA
Up to $200
Category II:
New Harbor Commercial Zone
Old Harbor Commercial Zone
Mixed Use Zone
Service Commercial Zone
7:00 a.m. to midnight
70 dBA
Up to $500
midnight to 7:00 a.m.
65 dBA
Up to $500
Category III:
Beaches
Public Waters
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
65 dBA
Up to $200
9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
55 dBA
Up to $200
Category IV:
Special Event
Day time special events shall be exempt from the sound limits (dBA) until December 31, 2005
(b) 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any business with a liquor license which is cited for a noise disturbance is subject to the penalty for a violation in a "Category II" property as set out in table I as set forth in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) 
Correction for character of sound. For any source of sound which emits a pure tone, the maximum sound level limits set forth hereinabove shall be reduced five dBA.
(d) 
Exceptions to table I. Activities covered by the following sections:
(1) 
Section 12-47, Emergency signaling devices.
(2) 
Section 12-50, Regulation of sound equipment and sound amplifying equipment.
(3) 
Section 12-51, Motorized vehicles.
(4) 
Section 12-53, Stationary nonemergency signaling devices.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 12-47; Ord. of 3-18-1992; Ord. of 4-6-2005(3), § 12-47]
(a) 
No person shall operate or permit the intentional sounding outdoors of any fire, burglar or civil defense alarm, siren, whistle or similar stationary emergency signaling device except for emergency purposes or for testing as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) 
Testing of a stationary emergency signaling device shall occur at the same time of day each time the test is performed, but not before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. Any such testing shall use only the minimum cycle test time. In no case shall the test time exceed 60 seconds.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 12-48; Ord. of 3-18-1992; Ord. of 4-6-2005(3), § 12-48]
(a) 
Sales by hawking or barking. No person shall create a noise disturbance by offering for sale or selling anything by shouting or outcry across a real property boundary or in a noise sensitive area.
(b) 
Vehicle or motorboat repairs or testing. No person shall repair, rebuild, modify or test any motor vehicle, motorcycle or motorboat in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance across a real property boundary or within a noise sensitive area.
(c) 
Powered model vehicles. No person shall operate or permit the operation of powered model vehicles in a public or private space out of doors or within a noise sensitive area between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 12-49; Ord. of 3-18-1992; Ord. of 4-6-2005(3), § 12-49]
No person shall operate, play or permit the operation or playing of any drum, musical instrument, radio, tape player, compact disc, television or similar device, or any combination of the same, which produces, reproduces or amplifies sound:
(1) 
In such a manner as to create a noise disturbance across a real property boundary or within a noise sensitive area;
(2) 
In such a manner as to create a noise disturbance at 50 feet from such device, when operated in or on a motor vehicle on a public right-of-way or space, or in a boat or personal watercraft on public waters;
(3) 
In such a manner as to create a noise disturbance, a distance of 50 feet from such device, to any person other than the operator of the device when operated by any person on either a common carrier, public beach, park, playground or other public recreational area.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 12-50; Ord. of 3-18-1992; Ord. of 4-6-2005(3), § 12-50]
Except for activities for which a special event license or an outdoor entertainment license has been issued by the town, no person shall so operate, play or permit the operation or playing of any radio, television, phonograph or other sound-amplifying equipment so as to create a noise disturbance across a real property boundary.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 12-51; Ord. of 3-18-1992; Ord. of 4-6-2005(3), § 12-51]
(a) 
No person shall operate the engine providing motive power or any auxiliary engine of a motor vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more for a consecutive period longer than 20 minutes while such vehicle is standing and located within 150 feet of property zoned and used for residential purposes, except where such vehicle is standing within a completely enclosed structure. This section shall not apply to delivery or pickup vehicles that require the operation of the engine to unload or load their vending loads.
(b) 
No person shall operate within the speed limits specified in this section either a motor vehicle or a combination of vehicles of a type subject to registration at any time or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration in such manner as to exceed the noise limits listed in table II for the category of motor vehicle based on the legal speed limit, posted or not, of the road or way on which operated. Such noise shall be measured at a distance of no more than 50 feet from the centerline of travel under test procedures established by subsection (c) of this section. In the event the distance of the measuring instrument from the centerline of travel is less than 50 feet, such listed noise limits shall be corrected to reflect the equivalent noise limits for the actual distance.
Noise Table II
Noise Limit in Relation to Legal Speed Limit
Type of Vehicle
35 mph or Less
Over 35 mph
Any motor vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more and any combination of vehicles towed by such motor vehicle
88 dB(A)
92 dB(A)
Any motorcycle
82 dB(A)
86 dB(A)
Any other motor vehicle and any combination of motor vehicles towed by such motor vehicle
76 dB(A)
82 dB(A)
This section applies to the total noise from a vehicle or combination of vehicles and shall not be construed as limiting or precluding the enforcement of any other provisions of this Revision relating to motor vehicle muffler or noise control.
(c) 
The measurement of sound or noise shall be made with a sound level meter meeting standards prescribed by the American National Standards Institute or its successor body. The instrument shall be maintained in calibration and good working order. A calibration check shall be made of the system at the time of any noise measurement. Measurements recorded shall be taken so as to provide a proper representation of the noise source. The microphone during measurement shall be positioned so as not to create any unnatural enhancement or diminution of the measured noise. A windscreen for the microphone shall be used when required. Traffic, aircraft and other transportation noise sources and other background noise interferes with the primary noise being measured.
(d) 
Every motor vehicle and motorboat shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent noise which exceeds the dBA levels in table II in subsection (b) of this section. No person shall use a muffler cutout, bypass or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway.
(e) 
No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle or motorcycle by installation of a muffler or bypass and no person shall operate a motor vehicle or motorcycle which has been so modified.
(f) 
No person shall operate an off-road recreational vehicle or permit the operation of one or more off-road recreational vehicles, individually or in a group or in an organized racing event, on public or private property in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance across a real property boundary or in a noise sensitive area.
(g) 
No person shall sound any horn or other auditory signaling device on or in any motor vehicle on any public right-of-way or public space, except as a warning of danger or as provided in the vehicle code.
(h) 
No person shall sound any horn or other auditory signaling device so as to create or cause a noise disturbance.
(i) 
No person shall operate or permit the operation of any motor boat or other watercraft in any pond, harbor, ocean or other waterway in such a manner so as to cause a noise disturbance and/or as to exceed a sound level of 65 dBA at 150 feet or the nearest shoreline, whichever is less.
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 12-52; Ord. of 3-18-1992; Ord. of 4-6-2005(3), § 12-52]
(a) 
No person shall operate or permit the operation of any tools or equipment in construction, drilling or demolition work, or in preventive maintenance work for public service utilities, which creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary or within a noise sensitive area.
(b) 
The terms of this section shall not apply to emergency work or repair work performed by and for governmental entities or public service utilities.
(c) 
The use of domestic power tools or equipment is subject to the noise levels in table I in § 12-46(a).
[Rev. Ords. 1989, § 12-53; Ord. of 3-18-1992; Ord. of 4-6-2005(3), § 12-53]
(a) 
No person shall operate or permit the sounding of any stationary bell, chime, siren, whistle or similar device, intended primarily for nonemergency purposes, from any place for more than one minute in any hourly period.
(b) 
Devices used in conjunction with places of religious worship shall be exempt from the operation of this section.
No person shall own, possess, or harbor any animal or bird which frequently or for a continued duration emits sound native to the species which exceed the dBA levels in table I in § 12-46(a).
[Ord. of 3-18-1992, § 12-55; Ord. of 10-20-1993; Ord. of 4-6-2005(3), § 12-55]
Outdoor entertainment or amplification of sound of a commercial nature is prohibited except when licensed under the provisions of chapter 8.
[Ord. of 3-18-1992, § 12-56; Ord. of 4-6-2005(3), § 12-56]
(a) 
The violation of any provision of this chapter shall carry a penalty as provided by the general laws of the state and § 1-15.
(b) 
Each such act which constitutes a violation of any provision of this chapter which either continues or is repeated more than 30 minutes shall be considered a separate offense and shall be prosecuted as a separate offense.