It is declared to be the policy of the city to minimize the exposure of citizens to the physiological and psychological dangers of excessive noise and to protect, promote and preserve the public health, safety and general welfare. It is the express intent of the city council to control the level of noise in a manner which promotes commerce, the use, value and the enjoyment of property, sleep and repose, and the quality of the environment.
(Ord. 541 § 2, 1982; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings. All technical terminology used in this chapter and not defined specifically herein shall be interpreted in conformance with American National Standards Institute's Specifications.
A. 
"Emergency work"
means work required to restore property to a safe condition following a public calamity, work required to protect persons or property from an immediate exposure to danger, or work by private or public utilities for providing or restoring immediately necessary utility services.
B. 
"Equipment"
means any stationary or portable device or any part thereof capable of generating sound.
C. 
"Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)"
means the value specified by the manufacturer as the recommended maximum loaded weight of a single vehicle.
D. 
"Motor vehicle"
means any vehicle which is self-propelled, used primarily for transporting persons or property upon public highways. Aircraft, watercraft, and vehicles used exclusively on stationary rails or track are not motor vehicles as that term is used herein. It includes motorcycles unless distinction is made in the context of use.
E. 
"Motorcycle"
means any motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, except farm tractors.
F. 
"Muffler"
means a device consisting of a series of chambers or other mechanical designs for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and effective in reducing sound resulting therefrom.
G. 
"Noise control administrator"
means the person designated by the mayor to enforce the provisions of this chapter. In addition to the noise control administrator, any police officer may enforce the provisions of this chapter.
H. 
"Person"
means any individual, firm, business, association, partnership, corporation or any other entity, public or private.
I. 
"Public disturbance noise(s)"
is any sound which unreasonably either annoys, injures, interferes with or endangers the peace, comfort, tranquility, sleep or repose, health or safety of a community or neighborhood, although the extent of the damage or interference may be unequal.
J. 
"Race vehicle"
means a motor vehicle not licensed for use on the public streets and/or which is used primarily for sanctioned or unsanctioned racing events. "Race vehicle" shall also include power boats used primarily for racing events.
(Ord. 541 § 3, 1982; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
No person shall use motor vehicle brakes which are in any way activated or operated by the compression of the engine of any such motor vehicle or any unit or part thereof. Any violation of this section shall be deemed a traffic infraction and the penalty therefor shall be $50.00.
(Ord. 683 § 1 (Exh. A), 1986; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
It is unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle or any combination of motor vehicles upon any public highway or easement road under any conditions of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration in such a manner as to create a public disturbance noise.
While on real property other than highways or easement roads, motor vehicles, whether licensed or unlicensed, shall not create public disturbance noises.
(Ord. 541 § 8, 1982; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
It is unlawful for any person to operate, or for any owner to permit any person to operate, any motor vehicle upon the public highways or easement roads which is not equipped with a muffler in good working order, in constant operation, and which meets the requirements established by RCW 46.37.390 as now exists or as may hereafter be amended.
(Ord. 541 § 9, 1982; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
It is unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle in such a manner as to cause or allow to be emitted squealing, screeching or other such sound from the tires in contact with the ground or other roadway surface because of rapid acceleration or excessive speed around corners or other such reason; provided, that the sounds resulting from emergency braking to avoid imminent danger shall be exempt from this section.
(Ord. 541 § 10, 1982; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
The following sounds are exempt from the provisions of this chapter at all times:
A. 
Noises caused by motor vehicles used for highway maintenance or noises caused in the performance of emergency work for the immediate safety, health or welfare of the community or of individuals of the community, or to restore property in a safe condition following a public calamity;
B. 
Sounds created by warning devices and fire alarms not operating continuously for more than five minutes or bells, chimes and carillons;
C. 
Sounds originating from aircraft in flight and sounds that originate at airports which are directly related to flight operations and from watercraft;
D. 
Sounds created by other emergency equipment operated by law enforcement, firefighters and aid personnel;
E. 
Sounds created by the operation of equipment or facilities of surface carriers engaged in commerce by railroad;
F. 
Sounds originating from officially sanctioned parades and other events to which the general public is solicited to attend without charge and sounds originating from league or school sponsored athletic events;
G. 
Sounds caused by natural phenomena and unamplified human voices, except for public disturbance noises as set forth in NBMC § 8.26.130;
H. 
Sounds originating from forest harvesting and silvicultural activity, except when received in residential districts between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.;
I. 
Sounds originating from motor vehicle racing events at existing authorized facilities;
J. 
Noise from electrical substations and existing stationary equipment used in the conveyance of water by a utility and noise from existing industrial installations which exceed the standards contained in these regulations, and, which over the previous three years, have consistently operated in excess of 15 hours per day as a consequence of process necessity and/or demonstrated routine normal operation. Changes in working hours, which would affect exemptions under this regulation, require approval by the noise control administrator;
K. 
Sounds emitted from petroleum refinery boilers during startup of the boilers; provided, that the startup operation is performed during daytime hours whenever possible;
L. 
Sounds created by the discharge of firearms in the course of hunting and at authorized shooting ranges between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
(Ord. 541 § 11, 1982; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
A. 
The following sounds are exempt from the provisions of this chapter between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.:
1. 
Sounds originating from residential property relating to temporary projects for the maintenance or repair of homes, grounds and appurtenances including but not limited to lawn mowers, saws, hammering and gardening, but excluding sounds from race vehicles.
B. 
The following sounds are exempt from the provisions of this chapter between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.:
1. 
Sounds created by temporary blasting relating to an approved permit; and
2. 
Sounds created by the installation or repair of essential utility service; and
3. 
Sounds created by aircraft, engine testing and maintenance not related to flight operations; provided, that aircraft testing and maintenance shall be conducted in remote sites whenever possible.
(Ord. 541 § 12, 1982; Ord. 1519 § 1, 2014; Ord. 1598 § 2, 2016; Ord. 1698 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
Sounds caused by or arising out of construction activities at construction sites are permitted only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Such sounds are prohibited at all other times, including at any time on Sundays and the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, regardless of the day of the week of any such holiday.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, however, the director of public works may authorize construction noise to otherwise occur when necessary in the director's reasonable discretion to accommodate transportation mitigation such as evening haul routes, construction on government facilities which cannot be undertaken during permitted hours, construction activities and site stabilization in the fall prior to the onset of winter weather, emergency work, or similar unusual events.
(Ord. 1598 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1600 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1698 § 2, 2019; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
A. 
It is unlawful for any person knowingly to cause or make, or for any person in possession of property knowingly to allow to originate from the property, public disturbance noises which disturb another, and to refuse or intentionally fail to cease the unreasonable noise when ordered to do so by the noise control administrator. Public disturbance noises shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following sounds or combinations of sounds:
1. 
Frequent, repetitive or intermittently continuous sounds made by any animal except that such sounds made in animal shelters or in commercial kennels duly licensed shall be exempt;
2. 
Frequent, repetitive or intermittently continuous sounds made by any horn or siren attached to a motor vehicle except such sounds that are made to warn of danger or that are specifically permitted as required by law;
3. 
Frequent, repetitive or intermittently continuous sounds made in connection with the starting, operation, repair, rebuilding or testing of any motor vehicle, motorcycle, race vehicle, off-highway vehicle or internal combustion engine;
4. 
Loud and frequent, repetitive or intermittently continuous sounds made by the use of a musical instrument or instruments or other device capable of producing sound when struck by an object, of a whistle, or of a sound amplifier or other device capable of producing, amplifying or reproducing sounds;
5. 
Loud and frequent, repetitive or intermittently continuous sounds made by the unamplified human voice or voices between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.;
6. 
Sounds made for any duration or frequency from the starting and/or running of the engine of a race vehicle.
B. 
It is unlawful for any person to cause or make, or for any person in possession of a property to allow to originate from the property public disturbance noises between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. from Sunday evening through Friday morning, between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. from Friday evening through Saturday morning, and between 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. from Saturday evening through Sunday morning, and to refuse or intentionally fail to cease the public disturbance noises when ordered to do so by a police officer.
(Ord. 541 § 14, 1982; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
Whenever it is stated in writing by three or more persons having separate residences in a neighborhood that any person is violating any of the provisions of this chapter, the noise control administrator shall advise the person of the complaint and that such violations must cease.
In addition, a complaint in writing by one individual will be accepted by the noise control administrator; provided, that the person complaining is an abutting property owner to the alleged violator of this chapter and the violation is confirmed by the noise control administrator or police officer.
(Ord. 541 § 15, 1982; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)
Any violation of this chapter shall be a civil infraction, remedied pursuant to Chapter 7.80 RCW.
(Ord. 541 § 16, 1982; Ord. 1088 § 3 (part), 1999; Ord. 1585 § 7, 2016; Ord. 1755 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021)