A. 
Causing annoyance, discomfort or disturbing the peace. It is unlawful for any person to make, cause or suffer or permit to be made or caused, upon any premises owned, occupied or controlled by said person in the City, any noises or sounds which cause annoyance or discomfort to persons of ordinary sensitivity or which disturb the peace and quiet of any neighborhood.
B. 
Factors used in determining whether a violation has occurred. The factors which shall be considered by the City in determining whether to issue a citation for a violation and whether a violation of this section has occurred shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. 
The volume of the noise, music, or related sound;
2. 
The intensity of the noise, music, or related sound;
3. 
The duration, continuousness or repetitive nature of the noise, music, or related sound;
4. 
Whether the origin of the noise, music, or related sound is natural or unnatural to the area in which it occurs;
5. 
The volume and intensity of the background noise or sound, if any;
6. 
The proximity of the noise, music, or related sound to residential sleeping facilities or to overnight accommodations, such as hotels and motels;
7. 
The proximity to offices, places of business or other areas where work is known to be carried on, of the noise, music, or related sound;
8. 
The nature and zoning of the area within which the noise, music, or related sound emanates;
9. 
The time of day or night the noise, music, or related sound occurs and the relationship of this time to the normal activities of the area in which it occurs and in relation to the other factors listed in this subsection;
10. 
Whether the noise, music, or related sound is recurrent, intermittent, or constant;
11. 
Whether the noise, music, or related sound is produced by a commercial or a noncommercial activity;
12. 
Whether the person or business responsible for the noise, music, or related sound has been previously recently warned that complaints have been received about the noise, music, or related sound and such person or business has failed to reduce it to an appropriate level.
(Prior code §32.28; Ord. 5145, 2000; Ord. 5740, 2016)
No person shall make, continue or cause to be made or continued, or permit or allow to be made or continued, any noise disturbance in such a manner as to be plainly audible by a person of ordinary sensitivity at a distance of 50 feet from the noise source; provided, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any noise which does not penetrate beyond the boundaries of the noise source's own premises or does not constitute an unreasonable disturbance to people lawfully on those premises.
(Ord. 5740, 2016)
A. 
The following subsections set forth specific conduct which shall be unlawful:
1. 
Radios, Television Sets, Musical Instruments and Similar Devices. Operating, playing or permitting the operation or playing of any radio, television set, music player, drum, musical instrument, or similar device which produces or reproduces sound between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance audible by a person of ordinary sensitivity across a residential or commercial real property line.
2. 
Loudspeakers and Amplified Sound. Using or operating for any purpose any loudspeaker, loudspeaker system or similar device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner that the sound creates a noise disturbance audible by a person of ordinary sensitivity across a residential real property line. The applicable hours shall be extended to 1:30 a.m. on the night before New Year's Day.
3. 
Animals and Birds. Keeping, maintaining or possessing or harboring any animal or bird which frequently or for long duration, howls, barks, meows, squawks or makes other sounds which create a noise disturbance audible by a person of ordinary sensitivity across a residential or commercial real property line.
B. 
Exclusions.
1. 
Amplification of sound by a person as part of an event or activity sponsored or approved by the County of Santa Barbara on property owned by or leased to the county, provided the county has adopted or approved a sound control plan for the property which is applicable to the event or activity.
2. 
Amplification of sound by a person as a part of an event or activity sponsored or approved by the County of Santa Barbara on property owned by or leased to the County of Santa Barbara and for which property the county has not developed a sound control plan.
3. 
Amplification of sound by a person as part of an activity or event sponsored or approved by the City of Santa Barbara on property owned by or leased to the City of Santa Barbara.
4. 
Amplification of sound by a person as part of an activity or event sponsored by or approved by a nursery school or day care, elementary school, secondary school or college or university on property owned by or leased to the educational institution.
5. 
Amplification of sound by a person as part of an activity or event sponsored by or approved by a public entity on property owned by or leased to the public entity.
(Ord. 5740, 2016; Ord. 6120, 2023)
It is unlawful for any person, between the hours of 8:00 p.m. of any day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day to erect, construct, demolish, excavate for, alter or repair any building or structure unless a special permit has been applied for and granted by the Chief Building Official. In granting such special permit, the Chief Building Official shall consider if construction noise in the vicinity of the proposed work site would be less objectionable at night than during daytime because of different population levels or different neighboring activities, if obstruction and interference with traffic, particularly on streets of major importance, would be less objectionable at night than during daytime, if the kind of work to be performed emits noises at such a low level as to not cause significant disturbance in the vicinity of the work site, if the neighborhood of the proposed work site is primarily residential in character wherein sleep could be disturbed, if great economic hardship would occur if the work were spread over a longer time, if the work will abate or prevent hazard to life or property, if the proposed night work is in the general public interest; and he or she shall prescribe such conditions, working times, types of construction equipment to be used, and permissible noise emissions, as he or she deems to be required in the public interest. This section shall not be applicable to activities of public or private utilities when restoring utility service following a public calamity or when doing work required to protect persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger.
(Ord. 4039, 1980; Ord. 5740, 2016)
A. 
Definitions.
Leaf Blower.
Any device used, designed or operated to produce a current of air by fuel, electricity or other means to push, propel or blow cuttings, refuse or debris.
Noise Level Standards.
Measured in accordance with those standards developed under the supervision of the American National Standards Institute's (ANSI) "Committee for Sound Level Labeling Standard for Hand Held and Back Pack Gasoline Engine Powered Blowers" presently adopted as ANSI B-175.2-1990 with the maximum noise level of 65 decibels.
B. 
Prohibition in residential zones. It is unlawful for any person to operate a leaf blower within 250 feet of any residential zone, as that term is defined in Title 28 of this code, before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or at any time on Sundays or national holidays, provided that the City Parks and Recreation Department employees shall be allowed to use leaf blowers between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday when cleaning parking lots adjacent to the City's Beachfront parks.
C. 
Cleanup of debris. It is unlawful for any person operating any type of leaf blower to blow cuttings, refuse or debris onto a neighboring property or into a street or gutter. It is also unlawful for any person operating any leaf blower to fail to properly dispose of accumulated debris, leaves, or refuse in a sealed trash or refuse container.
D. 
Phase-out of certain leaf blowers.
1. 
Existing Leaf Blowers. The use of leaf blowers which are not manufactured to meet or exceed the Noise Level Standards is prohibited in all areas of the City, under all circumstances, after October 9, 1997.
2. 
Sale of New Leaf Blowers. It is unlawful to sell or offer for sale within the City of Santa Barbara leaf blowers which are not manufactured to meet or exceed the Noise Level Standards of 65 decibels.
E. 
Certification. Owners and operators will present equipment to the City Parks and Recreation Director or designee, with an application and reasonable fee, for noise testing according to ANSI testing criteria in the Noise Level Standards. Leaf blowers which generate 65 decibels or less according to the test will be issued a certification sticker, which is valid for one year following the date of testing. The use of a leaf blower, without a current and valid certification sticker affixed to it, within the City after July 1, 1998, is an infraction. All sound level measurements described in this section shall be taken with a Sound Level Meter.
F. 
Guidelines for the proper use of leaf blowers. The City Parks and Recreation Director is hereby authorized and directed to adopt guidelines for the proper use of leaf blowers, which guidelines shall promote the safe and efficient use of leaf blowers, while also mitigating, to the extent possible, the noise and nuisance effects of leaf blowers. The Finance Department is hereby directed to provide a copy of this chapter and the leaf blower guidelines to each person obtaining a City business license for the operating of a gardening or landscaping maintenance service or business within the City. The operator of every business establishment selling leaf blowers within the City of Santa Barbara shall post in a conspicuous location and shall distribute to all purchasers a copy of this chapter and the guidelines.
(Ord. 4452, 1987; Ord. 4718, 1991; Ord. 4720, 1991; Ord. 5024, 1997; Ord. 5037, 1997; Ord. 5740, 2016)
A. 
Measure D97, adopted November 4, 1997, provides: In order to secure and promote the public health, comfort, safety and welfare, and to protect the rights of its citizens to privacy and freedom from nuisance, it is the purpose of this chapter to prohibit unnecessary, excessive and annoying noises at levels which are detrimental to the health and welfare of the community, and to minimize airborne dust and pollen.
B. 
It is unlawful for any person within the City to use or operate any portable machine powered with a gasoline engine, or gasoline-powered generator, to blow leaves, dirt, and other debris off sidewalks, driveways, lawns, or other surfaces.
(Ord. 5036, 1997)
A. 
Hours of operation. Hours of operation on property zoned for agricultural use and used for planting, grading, vegetation removal, harvesting, sorting, cleaning, packing, shipping, and pesticide application shall be limited to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Hours of operation for the above-stated activities shall be limited to 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday and holidays.
B. 
Motor vehicle horns and signaling devices. The following acts and the causing thereof are declared to be in violation of this chapter:
1. 
The sounding of 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 as provided in Section 27000 of the California Vehicle Code.
2. 
The sounding of any horn or other auditory signaling device which produces a sound level in excess of 60 dB(A) at a distance of 200 feet.
3. 
Exception. Emergency vehicles may be equipped with and use auditory signaling devices that do not comply with the requirements of this section.
C. 
Mechanical equipment. Mechanical equipment other than vehicles and equipment which are operated by electricity obtained from an electricity utility company shall not be used outside before 8:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday or holidays, or before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
D. 
Noise limitations. All mechanical equipment other than vehicles (including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems) shall be insulated. Sound at the property line of any adjacent parcel used or zoned for residential, public, or semi-public uses shall not exceed 53 A-weighted decibels 53dB(A). All wind machines are prohibited in the City.
(Ord. 4878, 1994; Ord. 5740, 2016; Ord. 5798, 2017)
No person shall amplify sound using sound amplifying equipment contrary to any of the following:
A. 
The only amplified sound permitted shall be either music or the human voice or both.
B. 
Sound emanating from any public park or place shall not be amplified above the ambient noise level so as to be audible within any hospital, rest home, convalescent hospital, or church while services therein are being conducted.
C. 
The volume of amplified sound shall not exceed 60dB(A) when measured outdoors at or beyond the property line of the property from which the sound emanates.
D. 
The volume of amplified sound inside a structure shall not exceed 45dB(A) when measured inside a building used for residential purposes. This maximum noise level shall not apply to the dwelling unit from which the sound is emanating.
E. 
The limits set forth above shall not apply to the following:
1. 
Amplification of sound by a person as part of an event or activity sponsored or approved by the County of Santa Barbara on property owned by or leased to the county, provided the county has adopted or approved a sound control plan for the property which is applicable to the event or activity;
2. 
Amplification of sound by a person as a part of an event or activity sponsored or approved by the County of Santa Barbara on property owned by or leased to the County of Santa Barbara and for which property the county has not developed a sound control plan;
3. 
Amplification of sound by a person as part of an activity or event sponsored or approved by the City of Santa Barbara on property owned by or leased to the City of Santa Barbara;
4. 
Amplification of sound by a person as part of an activity or event sponsored by or approved by a nursery school, elementary school, secondary school or college or university on property owned by or leased to said educational institution;
5. 
Amplification of sound by a person as part of an activity or event sponsored by or approved by a public entity on property owned by or leased to said public entity;
6. 
Up to 1:30 a.m. on the night before New Year's Day.
(Ord. 4039, 1980; Ord. 5740, 2016; Ord. 6120, 2023)
Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, technical words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:
Ambient Noise.
"Ambient noise" is the all-encompassing noise associated with a given environment, being usually composed of sounds from many sources near and far. For the purpose of this chapter, ambient noise level is the level obtained when the noise level is averaged over a period of five minutes without inclusion of noise from isolated identifiable sources, at the location and time of day near that at which a comparison is to be made.
Decibel.
"Decibel" (dB) shall mean an intensity unit which denotes the ratio between two quantities which are proportional to power; the number of decibels corresponding to the ratio is 10 times the common logarithm of this ratio.
Noise Disturbance.
"Noise disturbance" shall mean any sound which (a) endangers or injures the safety or health of human beings or animals, or (b) annoys or disturbs reasonable persons of normal sensitivities, or (c) endangers or injures personal or real property, or (d) violates the factors set forth in Section 9.16.010 of this chapter. Compliance with the quantitative standards as listed in this chapter shall constitute elimination of a noise disturbance.
Person.
"Person" shall mean a person, firm, association, co-partnership, joint venture, corporation, or any entity, public or private in nature.
Sound Amplifying Equipment.
"Sound amplifying equipment" shall mean any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music, or any other sound. "Sound amplifying equipment" shall not include standard automobile radios when used and heard only by the occupants of the vehicle in which the automobile radio is installed. "Sound amplifying equipment" as used in this chapter shall not include warning devices on authorized emergency vehicles or horns or other warning devices on any vehicle used only for traffic safety purposes, and shall not include communication equipment used by public or private utilities when restoring utility service following a public calamity or when doing work required to protect persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger.
Sound Level.
"Sound level" (noise level) in decibels is the value of a sound measurement using the "A" weighting network of a sound level meter. Slow response of the sound level meter needle shall be used except where the sound is impulsive or rapidly varying in nature, in which case fast response shall be used.
Sound Level Meter.
"Sound level meter" shall mean an instrument including a microphone, an amplifier, an output meter, and frequency weighting networks for the measurement of sound levels which satisfies the pertinent requirements in American National Standards Institute's specification S1.4 2014 or the most recent revision thereof for type S-2A general purpose sound level meters.
Supplementary Definitions of Technical Terms.
Definitions of technical terms not defined herein shall be obtained from the American National Standards Institute's Acoustical Terminology S11 1994 or the most recent revision thereof.
(Ord. 4039, 1980; Ord. 5740, 2016)
A. 
Any decibel measurement made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be based on a reference sound pressure of 20 micronewtons per square meter (0.0002 microbar) as measured with a sound level meter using the "A" weighting, and using the slow meter response.
B. 
Unless otherwise provided, outdoor measurements shall be taken with the microphone located at any point on the property line of the noise source, but no closer than five feet from any wall or vertical obstruction and three to five feet above ground level whenever possible.
C. 
Unless otherwise provided, indoor measurements shall be taken inside the structure with the microphone located at any point as follows: (1) no less than three feet above floor level; (2) no less than five feet from any wall or vertical obstruction; and (3) not under common possession and control with the building or portion of the building from which the sound is emanating.
(Ord. 4039, 1980)
A. 
Prima facie violation. Any noise exceeding the noise level limits in Section 9.16.080, or the prohibited actions as provided in Sections 9.16.010, 9.16.020 and 9.16.030, shall be deemed to be prima facie evidence of a violation of the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Violations. Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be an infraction or be subject to administrative code enforcement pursuant to Chapter 1.25 of this code. Each hour such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such.
C. 
Abatement orders.
1. 
In lieu of issuing a notice of violation as provided for in subsection B of this section, the zoning enforcement or police department staff responsible for enforcement of any provision of this chapter may issue an order requiring abatement of a sound source alleged to be in violation, within a reasonable time period and according to guidelines which the police department may prescribe.
2. 
No complaint or further action shall be taken in the event that the cause of the violation has been removed, the condition abated or fully corrected within the time period specified in the written notice.
D. 
Continued violations. Once a violation of any provision of this chapter has been verified by zoning enforcement or police department staff, the owner(s) of the property where the violation occurred may be subject to administrative action or infraction citation for allowing a subsequent violation of this chapter to occur on the property within nine months after the date of a previous violation, provided the property owner has received notification from the City of the previous violation and at least 14 days have passed since the date the notification was mailed to the property owner(s).
(Ord. 5740, 2016)
As an additional remedy, the operation or maintenance of any sound amplifying equipment, device, instrument, vehicle, or machinery in violation of any provision of this chapter, which operation or maintenance causes discomfort or annoyance to reasonable persons of normal sensitiveness or which endangers the comfort, repose, health or peace of residents in the area, shall be deemed and is declared to be a public nuisance and may be subject to abatement summarily by a restraining order or injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(Ord. 4039, 1980)