[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of Coventry 9-27-1993 by Ord. No. 5-93-0190 (Ch. 10A of the
1991 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
The Town Council finds and declares that:
A.Â
Excessive noise is a serious hazard to public health,
welfare and quality of life in the Town.
B.Â
The technology exists by which excessive noise can
be substantially abated without undue expense or inconvenience.
C.Â
Certain noise-producing equipment in this community
is essential to the quality of life herein and should be allowed to
continue at reasonable levels with moderate regulation.
D.Â
Each person has a right to an environment reasonably
free from noise which jeopardizes health or welfare or unnecessarily
degrades the quality of life.
E.Â
It is the declared policy of this Town to promote
an environment free from excessive noise without unduly prohibiting,
limiting or otherwise regulating the function of certain noise-producing
equipment which is essential to the economy and quality of life of
the community.
A.Â
The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards
for the control of excessive noise in the Town by setting maximum
permissible sound levels for various activities.
B.Â
This chapter may be cited as the "Noise Control Ordinance
of the Town of Coventry."
C.Â
This chapter shall apply to the control of all noise
originating within the limits of the Town, excepting those areas where
the Town Council has determined that, by reason of public acceptance
of the activity producing a particular noise or noises, such noise
is deemed acceptable to the residents of this Town.
Decibel measurements shall be made with a sound
level meter, which shall be an instrument in good operating condition,
meeting the requirements of a Type I or Type II meter, as specified
by ANSI Standard 1.4-1971. For purposes of this chapter, a sound level
meter shall contain A-weighted scale and both fast and slow meter
response capability.
Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context
clearly indicates a different intention, the following terms shall
have the meanings shown. Definitions of technical terms used shall
be obtained from publications of acoustical terminology issued by
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or its successor
body.
The noise associated with a given environment, exclusive
of a particular noise being tested, being usually a composite of sounds
from many sources near and far, exclusive of intruding noises from
isolated identifiable sources. For the purpose of this chapter, ambient
noise level is the average over 15 minutes, excluding random or intermittent
noises and the alleged offensive noise at the location and time of
day at which a comparison with an alleged offensive noise is to be
made.
The sound level in decibels measured using the A-weighted
network as specified in ANSI 1.4-1971 for sound level meters. The
level is designated dB(A) or dBA.
Any and all activity necessary or incidental to the erection,
assembling, altering, installing, repair or equipping of buildings,
roadways or utilities, including land-clearing, grading, excavating
and filling.
A continuous noise disturbance in excess of 15 minutes.
A logarithmic and dimensionless unit of measure often used
in describing the amplitude of sound, equal to 20 times the logarithm
to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured
to the reference pressure, which is 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons
per square meter).
Any dismantling, intentional destruction or removal of structures,
utilities, public or private right-of-way surfaces or similar property.
A building or portion thereof regularly used for residential
occupancy.
A device, used primarily on trucks and buses to convert the
motor from an internal combustion engine to an air compressor for
the purpose of vehicle braking without the use of wheel brakes.
Work made necessary to restore property to a safe condition
following a public calamity, work to restore public utilities or work
required to protect persons or property from imminent exposure to
danger.
A sound of short duration, usually less than one second,
with an abrupt onset and rapid decay. Examples of sources of impulsive
sound include explosions, drop-forge impacts and the discharge of
firearms.
Any area, tract or parcel of land owned by or under the lawful
control of one distinct ownership. Abutting platted lots under the
same ownership shall be considered a "lot." The lot line or boundary
is an imaginary line at ground level which separates a lot and its
vertical extension owned by one person from that owned by another.
A dwelling unit or school located in a business or industrial
zone.
Any motor vehicle having a saddle or seat for the use of
the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in
contact with the ground. The terms shall include motorized bicycles
and motor scooters.
Any motor-operated vehicle licensed for use on the public
highways, but not including a motorcycle.
Sound characterized by normal listeners as having a predominant
pitch or series of pitches; sound described by such listeners as "whine,"
"hiss," "toot" or "wail"; a sound whose frequencies occupy an octave
band or less.
The Town department having responsibility for the enforcement
of this chapter.
Any sound which:
A.Â
Injures or endangers the safety or health of humans.
B.Â
Annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities.
C.Â
NOISE-SENSITIVE ACTIVITIES
NONCONFORMING USE
OFF-ROAD RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
PERSON
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUND
PLAINLY AUDIBLE (SOUND)
POWERED MODEL VEHICLE
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
PUBLIC SPACE
PURE TONE
REAL PROPERTY BOUNDARY
RECEIVING LAND USE
RESIDENTIAL
SOUND
SOUND LEVEL
SOUND LEVEL METER
SOUND PRESSURE
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL
STEADY SOUND
USED or OCCUPIED
WATERCRAFT
ZONE
Endangers or injures personal or real property.
Activities which should be conducted under conditions of
exceptional quiet, including, but not limited to, the operation of
schools, libraries open to the public, churches, hospitals and nursing
home.
As defined by the Zoning Ordinance.
Any motor vehicle, including road vehicles, but excepting
watercraft, used off public roads for recreational purposes.
Any individual, association, partnership or corporation,
including any officer, department, bureau, agency or instrumentality
of the United States, a state or any political subdivision of that
state, including the Town.
A descriptive term, encompassing the steady, impulsive or
narrow band property of the sound, the level of the sound and the
extent to which it exceeds the background sound level.
Any sound for which the information content of that sound
is unambiguously communicated to the listener, such as, but not limited
to, understandable spoken speech, comprehension of whether a voice
is raised or normal or comprehensible music rhythms.
Any self-propelled airborne, waterborne or landborne model
plane, vessel or vehicle which is not designed to carry persons, including,
but not limited to, any model airplane, boat, car or rocket.
Any street, avenue, highway, boulevard, alley, easement or
public space which is owned by or controlled by a public government
entity.
Any real property, including any structure thereon, which
is owned or controlled by a governmental entity.
Any sound which can be distinctly heard as a single pitch
or set of single pitches.
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 intrabuilding real
property divisions.
For the purpose of this chapter, the use or occupancy of
the property which receives the transmission of sound as defined in
this section.
Any property on which is located a building or structure
used wholly or partially for living or sleeping purposes.
An oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle
velocity or other physical parameter in a medium with internal forces
that cause compression and rarefaction of that medium. The description
of sound may include any characteristic of such sound, including duration,
intensity and frequency.
The weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of
a sound level meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B
or C, as specified in American National Standards Institute specifications
for sound level meters (ANSI SI.4-1971, or the latest approved revision
thereof). If the frequency weighting employed is not indicated, the
A-weighting shall apply.
An instrument which includes a microphone, amplifier, RMS
detector, integrator or time averager, output or display meter and
weighting networks used to measure sound pressure levels, which complies
with American National Standards Institute Standard 1.4-1971.
The instantaneous difference between the actual pressure
and the average or barometric pressure at a given point in space as
produced by sound energy.
Twenty times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of
the RMS sound pressure to the reference pressure of 20 micronewtons
per square meter (20 x 106 n/m2). The sound pressure level is denoted LP or SPL and
is expressed in decibels.
A sound whose level remains essentially constant (+/-2 dBA)
during the period of observation when measured with the fast response
of the sound level meter.
Includes the words "intended, designed or arranged to be
used or occupied."
Any contrivance used or capable of being used as a means
of transportation or recreation on the water.
A classification of area of the Town as described in the
Coventry Zoning Ordinance.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
to:
A.Â
The emission of sound for the purpose of alerting
persons to the existence of an emergency.
B.Â
The emission of sound in the performance of emergency
work.
C.Â
Noncommercial public speaking and public assembly activities conducted on any private property public space or public right-of-way, except those activities controlled by § 169-11.
D.Â
The unamplified human voice.
E.Â
Agricultural activities.
F.Â
The emission of sound in the performance of military
operations, exclusive of travel by individuals to or from military
duty, except airports which are regulated under another authority.
G.Â
The emission of sound in the discharge of weapons
or in fireworks displays licensed by the Town from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00
p.m.
H.Â
The emission of sound in the operation of snow-removal
equipment.
I.Â
The emission of sound relative to permitted construction
and demolition activities, provided that such activity does not occur
between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
J.Â
The emission of sound in a residential area made in
the course of the maintenance of a dwelling and/or property from 8:00
a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
No person shall make, continue or cause to be
made or continued, except as permitted, any noise disturbance, as
defined in this chapter, or any noise in excess of the limits for
such noise established in this chapter.
A.Â
Maximum permissible sound levels. 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:
Sound Levels by Receiving Land Use
| |||
Zoning Category of Receiving Land Use
|
Time
|
Sound Level Limit
(dBA)
| |
Residential and open space
|
At all times
|
65
| |
Business (neighborhood, waterfront, general)
|
At all times
|
65
| |
Business (heavy, planned and industrial)
|
At all times
|
70
|
A.Â
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 below.
B.Â
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.
A.Â
Loading and unloading; exception. No person shall so load, unload, open, close or handle crates, containers, garbage cans and dumpsters, building materials or similar objects outdoors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following morning so as to create a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary or within a noise-sensitive area. This section shall not apply to activities covered by § 169-12.
B.Â
Vehicle or motorboat repairs and 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 residential real property boundary or outdoors within a noise-sensitive
area.
C.Â
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 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
No person shall operate, play or permit the
operation or playing of any musical instrument or similar device which
produces sound in such a manner so as to create a noise disturbance
across a residential real property boundary or outdoors within a noise-sensitive
area.
A.Â
Generally. Except for activities open to the public
and for which a permit has been issued by the Town under this chapter,
no person shall operate, play or permit the operation or playing of
any radio, television, phonograph, stereo, tape deck/recorder or other
similar device so as to:
(1)Â
Create a noise disturbance across a residential real
property boundary outdoors within a noise-sensitive area.
(2)Â
Create a noise disturbance 50 feet from the device,
when operated in or on a motor vehicle on a public right-of-way or
public space or in a boat on public waters.
(3)Â
Create a noise disturbance to any person other than
the operator of the device when operated by any passenger or a common
carrier.
B.Â
Sound equipment; permit required.
(1)Â
No person shall use, operate or cause to be used or
operated any radio, record player, tape deck or other device for producing
or amplifying sounds, hereafter referred to as "sound equipment,"
upon any premises, public or private, if the sound therefrom is plainly
audible from any public street or public place within the Town, unless
the person:
(2)Â
Furthermore, sound equipment shall not include:
(a)Â
Equipment used for public health and safety
purposes.
(b)Â
Church or clock carillons, bells or chimes.
(c)Â
Parades or processions for which a parade permit
has been issued, provided that the conditions of the permit are complied
with.
(d)Â
Automobile radios, tape decks or players or
other standard automobile equipment used and intended for the use
and enjoyment of occupants, provided that the sound emitting therefrom
is not audible for more than 50 feet from this vehicle.
(e)Â
Recorded music used in a nonresidential district
in conjunction with a civil or religious celebration.
(f)Â
Unamplified live music provided, sponsored or
funded, in whole or in part, by a governmental entity.
(g)Â
Mobile radio or telephone signaling devices.
C.Â
Places of public entertainment. No person shall operate,
play or permit the operation or playing of any radio, television,
phonograph, drum, musical instrument, sound amplifier or similar device
which produces, reproduces or amplifies sound in any place of public
entertainment at a sound level greater than 90 dB(A), as read by the
slow response on a sound level meter, at any point therein that is
normally occupied by a customer, unless a conspicuous and legible
sign is located outside such place, near each public entrance, stating
"Warning: Sound levels within may cause permanent hearing impairment."
A.Â
No person shall operate the engine providing motive power or an 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, provided that the sound level emitted by the motor vehicle exceeds the maximum permissible sound levels as prescribed by § 169-7, 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.Â
Noise limits in relation to speed limits.
(1)Â
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 limit listed hereinbelow 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 to be measured at a distance of not more than 50 feet from the center line of travel under test procedures established Subsection C below. In the event that the distance of the measuring instrument from the center line of travel is less than 25 feet, such listed noise limits shall be corrected to reflect the equivalent noise limits for the actual distance.
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
|
86 dB(A)
|
90 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)
|
(2)Â
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 Code
relating to motor vehicle muffler or noise control.
C.Â
The measurement of sound or noise shall be made with
a sound level meter meeting the 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 noises shall not be considered in taking measurements
except where such background noise interferes with the primary noise
being measured.
D.Â
Every motor vehicle and motor boat shall at all times
be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation
to prevent excessive or unusual noise. No person shall use a muffler
cutout, bypass or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway.
E.Â
Furthermore:
(1)Â
No person shall operate a recreational vehicle or
permit the operation of one or more recreational vehicles, individually,
in a group or in an organized racing event, whether on public or private
property, in such a manner that the sound level resulting from such
operation exceeds:
(a)Â
From the effective date of this chapter through
January 1, 1994, 70 dB(A) for a total of six minutes in any continuous
one-hour period; and
(b)Â
From and after January 1, 1994, 73 dB(A) for
a total of three minutes in any continuous one-hour period; or exceeds
90 dB(A) for any period of time during such operation. Sound levels
which exceed the limits described in this section at the real property
boundary of the receiving land use shall be deemed a noise disturbance.
(2)Â
No person shall permit the conducting of any part
of an organized racing event which involves a contest between or among
recreational vehicles on public or private property between the hours
of 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. the following morning.
A.Â
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 between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., in any manner which creates a noise disturbance as defined in § 169-4 across a residential real property boundary or within a noise-sensitive area.
A.Â
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 an hourly period.
B.Â
Devices used in conjunction with places of religious
worship shall be exempt from the operation of this section.
No person shall own an animal which frequently
or for continued duration howls, barks, meows, squawks or makes other
sounds which create a noise disturbance across a residential real
property boundary or within a noise-sensitive area.
A.Â
The noise control program established by this chapter
shall be implemented, administered and enforced by the Police Department
of the Town.
B.Â
To implement and enforce this chapter, the Police
Department shall have the additional power to:
(1)Â
Conduct research, monitoring and other studies related
to sound.
(2)Â
Conduct programs of public education regarding the
causes, effects and general methods of abatement and control of noise,
as well as the actions prohibited by this chapter and the procedures
for reporting violations.
(3)Â
Coordinate the noise control activities of all municipal
departments.
(4)Â
Review public and private projects, including those
subject to mandatory review or approval by other departments, for
compliance with this chapter if these projects are likely to cause
sound in violation of this chapter.
(5)Â
Upon presentation of proper credentials, enter and
inspect any private property or place and inspect any report or records
at any reasonable time when granted permission by the owner or by
some other person with authority to act for the owner.
All departments and agencies of the Town shall
carry out their programs in furtherance of the policy of this chapter.
A.Â
Administration.
(1)Â
The Chief of the Police Department or his designee
shall be the administrative officer of this chapter and shall have
the authority, consistent with this section, to grant sound permits.
(2)Â
If, in granting a permit, it shall be determined that
bringing the source of sound or activity for which the permit is sought
into strict compliance with this chapter would constitute an unreasonable
hardship on the applicant, the community or on other persons, the
Chief of Police shall balance the hardship of not allowing the permit
against any adverse impact on health, safety and welfare of persons
and property affected which would result from its issuance. Applicants
for sound permits are required to submit any information the Chief
of Police may reasonably require. A determination shall be rendered,
in writing, by the Chief of Police within 10 days of receipt of a
signed application.
(3)Â
The Chief of Police shall grant the permit (with or
without conditions), deny the permit or refer the application to the
Director of Public Safety for public hearing. An application shall
be referred in this manner only when it is determined that there is
sufficient reason to warrant a hearing in order to assure due process.
The issuance of a sound permit requires posting of the permit by the
Police Department, within 24 hours of such issuance, in clear public
view on the site. The permit shall remain in place as posted until
the expiration of the appeal period.
B.Â
Appeal. Any party claiming to be adversely affected
by the granting or denial of a sound permit may file a written, signed
statement of appeal with the Director of Public Safety within 15 days
of that determination by the Chief of Police or within 15 days of
the initial emission of the subject sound. The Director of Public
Safety shall, in conformance with the provisions of this chapter,
reverse or affirm, wholly or in part, the determination from which
the appeal was filed and may modify that determination.
C.Â
Referral; adversity. In the case of a referral by the Chief of Police, or an appeal by a party claiming to be adversely affected, the Director of Public Safety shall schedule a public hearing, shall sit as the hearing officer and shall have all of the powers of the administrative officer of this chapter. The appellant (or, in the case of a referral, the applicant) shall be required to give notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to property owners within 100 feet of the proposed noise source at least 10 days prior to the scheduled hearing. In hearing an appeal, the Director of Public Safety shall consider the same criteria outlined in Subsection A above. A decision shall be rendered within 10 days of the closure of the public hearing. This decision shall be placed on public record with the Town Clerk, together with specific reasons for the rendering.
Any person found to be in violation of this
chapter shall be punished as follows:
A.Â
The first offense shall be punished by the issuance
of a written warning to cease and desist the violation.
B.Â
The second offense shall be punished by a fine of
$100.
C.Â
The third offense and all subsequent offenses during
the same calendar year shall be punished by a fine of $200.
D.Â
Any entertainment license holder convicted of a fourth
offense in one calendar year shall suffer a three-month suspension
of said entertainment license.