The purpose of this chapter is to preserve the public peace and comfort of the citizens of the City of Goleta from unwarranted noises, sounds and vibrations. At certain levels, noise can be detrimental to the health, safety, welfare, and quality of life of the citizenry. Therefore, in the public interest, it shall be restricted. In order to better implement the goals of the noise element of the City’s General Plan and to more effectively prohibit unwanted and unnecessary sounds of all types within the community, this chapter has been amended.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1; Ord. 12-17 § 2; Ord. 23-09 § 2)
For the purpose of this chapter, the following phrases and terms are defined as follows:
"Construction"
shall include site preparation, demolition, grading, excavation, including, but not limited to, noise from hauling equipment to/from the site using public streets, and the erection, improvement, remodeling or repair of structures, including operation of equipment or machinery and the delivery of materials associated with those activities.
"Nighttime hours"
shall be Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
(Ord. 23-09 § 2)
A. 
Unless otherwise permitted in this chapter, it shall be unlawful to make, assist in making, permit, continue, create, or cause to be made, any noise, sounds or vibrations that are so loud, prolonged, and harsh as to be physically annoying to reasonable persons of ordinary sensitivity and to cause or contribute to the unreasonable discomfort of any persons within the vicinity, including, but not limited to, a “nuisance noise” as defined in GMC Section 17.39.070(B)(1). When considering whether a noise, sound or vibration is unreasonable within the meaning of this section, the following factors shall be taken into consideration:
1. 
The volume of the noise, music, or related sound;
2. 
The intensity of the noise, music, or related sound;
3. 
The continuousness or repetitive nature of the noise, music, or related sound;
4. 
Whether the nature of the noise, music, or related sound is unusual for the area in which it occurs;
5. 
Whether the origin of the noise, music, or related sound is natural or unnatural to the area in which it occurs;
6. 
The volume and intensity of the background noise or sound, if any;
7. 
The proximity of the noise, music, or related sound to residential sleeping facilities or to overnight accommodations, such as hotels and motels;
8. 
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;
9. 
The nature and zoning of the area within which the noise, music, or related sound emanates;
10. 
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;
11. 
The duration of the noise, music, or related sound;
12. 
Whether the noise, music, or related sound is recurrent, intermittent, or constant;
13. 
Whether the noise, music, or related sound is produced by a commercial or a noncommercial activity;
14. 
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.
B. 
Enforcement of a violation under this chapter shall not require the use of a sound level meter.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1; Ord. 12-17 § 2; Ord. 23-09 § 2)
Except as allowed in GMC Section 9.09.050 (Special Provisions—Exemptions) of this chapter, the following acts and the causing or permitting thereof, are declared and deemed to be in violation of this chapter:
A. 
Amplified Sound.
1. 
Using, operating or permitting to be played any devices for the production or reproduction of sound in volume sufficiently loud, including, but not limited to, radio, musical instrument, stereo, television set, or device as to be plainly audible at a distance at the property line of the property from which the sound is emanating during Nighttime Hours; and
2. 
Using, operating or permitting to be played any device for the production or reproduction of sound, including, but not limited to, radio, musical instrument, stereo, television set, or device, at a frequency that causes vibration to be plainly felt at the property line of the property from which the sound is emanating during nighttime hours.
B. 
Band or Orchestral Rehearsals. The conducting of or carrying on, or allowing the conducting or carrying on, of band or orchestral concerts or rehearsals or practices sufficiently loud as to be plainly audible at the property line of the property from which the sound is emanating during nighttime hours.
C. 
Engines, Motors and Mechanical Tools and Devices In or Near Residential District(s). The sustained, continuous or repeated operation or use of any motor or engine or the repair, modification, reconstruction, testing or operation of any automobile, motorcycle, machine, mechanical tool or device sufficiently loud as to be plainly audible at the property line of the property from which the sound is emanating.
D. 
Motor Vehicles. Racing the engine of any motor vehicle, needlessly bringing a motor vehicle to a sudden start or stop, or creating unnecessary noise through such activities, including, but not limited to, peeling out or doing donuts.
E. 
Construction. Construction shall only be conducted pursuant to the hours specified in GMC Section 17.39.070(G).
1. 
Utilities Exemption. As set forth in GMC Section 17.39.070(F), the provisions do not apply to capital improvement projects, maintenance and repair or excavation by a public utility which is subject to the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission and where such work is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety, or welfare and where such necessity makes it necessary to construct, repair or excavate during the prohibited hours.
2. 
City Exemption. The provisions of this section do not apply to City capital improvement projects and maintenance and repair projects which are authorized by the City.
F. 
Emergency Signaling Devices. The intentional sounding, or permitting the sounding, outdoors, of any emergency signaling device including fire, burglar, civil defense alarm, siren, whistle or similar emergency signaling device. Except, however, testing of an emergency signaling device is permitted, for only the minimum cycle test time for the device. In no case shall such test time be conducted during nighttime hours.
1. 
Failure to terminate the sounding of any exterior burglar or fire alarm within 15 minutes of activation.
2. 
Failure to terminate the sounding of any motor vehicle alarm within 15 minutes of activation.
3. 
Permitting the sounding of any motor vehicle alarm more than three times of any duration in any given day.
(Ord. 23-09 § 2)
The provisions of this chapter are not intended to affect and shall not apply to:
A. 
Noises Exempt Under GMC Section 17.39.070(F). The emission of noise associated with the following categories of noises exempt under GMC Section 17.39.070(F): emergencies, warning devices, special events, municipal solid waste collection, and City capital improvement projects and maintenance and repair projects.
B. 
Outdoor Gatherings. Outdoor gatherings, public dances, shows and sporting and entertaining events, provided such gathering, dance or event is conducted on commercial or institutional premises, pursuant to applicable rules, regulations and zoning restrictions, and in compliance with all permits or licenses issued by the City relative to the staging of the gathering, dance or event except during nighttime hours.
C. 
Outdoor Activities. Permitted activities conducted on private and public playgrounds, private and public parks and recreation facilities, fully licensed and approved child day care facilities within residential areas as permitted by law, and private and public school grounds, including, but not limited to, school athletic and school entertainment events except during nighttime hours.
D. 
Religious Noises. Singing, music, bells, chimes, carillons, and similar noises made for religious purposes, or in conjunction with religious services, or for celebrations of public holidays.
(Ord. 02-01 § 1; Ord. 12-17 § 2; Ord. 23-09 § 2)
A violation of this chapter is subject to the administrative penalty provisions of Chapter 1.02 of this Code.
(Ord. 23-09 § 2)