This chapter shall be known as the "New Rochelle
Noise Control Ordinance."
[Amended 9-16-1998 by Ord. No. 234-1998]
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
City of New Rochelle to prevent excessive, unreasonable or unusually
loud noise which may jeopardize the well-being or health or welfare
of its citizens or degrade the quality of life. The provisions and
prohibitions hereinafter contained and enacted are for the above-mentioned
purpose.
A.Â
All definitions used in this chapter, where applicable,
shall be in conformance with the terminology of the American National
Standards Institute. A copy of the American National Standards definitions
shall be available at the City Clerk's office for public use.
B.Â
A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVEL
AMBIENT NOISE
AIR COMPRESSOR
CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTION SITE
CONTINUOUS SOUND
DECIBEL (db)
DEVICE
DISCRETE TONE
EXHAUST
FREQUENCY
IMPULSIVE SOUND
L10
L90
LEAF BLOWER
MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT
MOTOR VEHICLE
MUFFLER
NOISE-SENSITIVE ZONE
PAVING BREAKER
PERSON
PUBLIC HIGHWAY
RAILROAD
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
REFUSE-COLLECTING VEHICLE
SNOWMOBILE
SOUND
SOUND LEVEL
SOUND-LEVEL METER
SOUND-REPRODUCTION DEVICE
SOUND SOURCE
SOUND TRUCK
UNREASONABLE NOISE
ZONING DISTRICT
Unless otherwise indicated by context, the following
terms and phrases shall mean:
The sound-pressure level in decibels as measured on a sound-level
meter using the A-weighing network and designated as "db(A)."
The all-encompassing noise associated with a given environment,
being usually a composite of sounds from many sources, near and far.
A device which draws in air or gas, compresses it and delivers
it at a higher pressure.
Any activity necessary or incidental to the erection, demolition,
assembling, altering, installing or equipping of buildings, public
or private highways, roads, premises, parks, utility lines or other
property, including but not limited to related activities such as
land clearing, grading, earthmoving, excavating, blasting, filling
and landscaping.
Any location, including land and water, where construction
takes place.
Any sound that is not an impulsive sound.
A unit for measuring the volume of a sound, equal to the
logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound
and the quantities concerned are proportional to power. (American
National Standards Institute terminology.)
Any machine, mechanism or equipment which is intended to
or which actually produces sound or vibration.
A sound wave whose instantaneous sound pressure varies essentially
as a simple sinusoidal function of time. (American National Standards
Institute terminology.)
A system which removes and transports air or gas from a device.
A function periodic in time which is the reciprocal of the
period. (American National Standards Institute terminology.)
A sound of short duration, usually less than one second and
of high intensity, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay. (American
National Standards Institute terminology. Examples include an explosion
or discharge of a firearm.)
The A-weighted sound level measured with slow response that
is exceeded 10% of the time in any one-hour interval. The measurement
time interval need not be one hour, provided that the measurement
results are representative of a one-hour interval.
The A-weighted sound level measured with slow response that
is exceeded 90% of the time in any one-hour interval. The measurement
time interval need not be one hour, provided that the measurement
results are representative of a one-hour interval.
Any device powered by an internal combustion engine which
emits air and which is used or designed to move leaves, grass, clippings,
dust, dirt or other matter by blowing them with air emitted by such
device.
[Added 12-13-1994 by Ord. No. 291-1994]
The weight of the vehicle unladen, plus the weight of the
maximum load to be carried by such vehicle during the registration
period or the maximum gross weight for which the vehicle is registered,
whichever is greater. (New York State Traffic and Vehicle Law.)
Every vehicle operated or driven upon a public highway which
is propelled by any power other than muscular power. (New York State
Vehicle and Traffic Law.)
A device for abating the sound of escaping gases of an internal
combustion engine or other sound source.
An area adjacent to a site, including but not limited to
any authorized school, church, senior citizen center, day-care center
or hospital, which requires specific noise limitations.
Any powered construction device that is designed to be used
or is actually used to cut or trench pavement, subbase macadam, gravel,
concrete or hard ground.
Includes the singular and plural and also any person, firm,
corporation, association, club, partnership, society or any other
form of association or organization.
Any highway, road, street, avenue, alley, public place, public
driveway or any other public way. (New York State Vehicle and Traffic
Law.)
A railroad operated for public use for conveying people or
property for compensation and includes all material and facilities
used therewith.
Any vehicle which is propelled by any power other than muscular
power that is designed for or capable of cross-country travel, such
as a motorcycle, trailbike or minibike. A "recreational vehicle" is
also classed as a motor vehicle when such "recreational vehicle" is
operated or driven upon a public highway.
Any motor vehicle designed to compact and transport refuse.
Any self-propelled vehicle designed for travel on snow or
ice.
An oscillation in pressure, stress, particle displacement
or other physical parameter in a medium with internal forces. (American
National Standards Institute terminology.)
The weighted pressure level, measured by the use of a metering
characteristic and the weighing A, B, C. (American National Standards
Institute terminology.)
An instrument, including a microphone, an amplifier, an output
meter and frequency weighing networks, for the measurement of sound
levels. (American National Standards Institute terminology.)
Any device that is designed to be used or is actually used
for the production or reproduction of sound, including but not limited
to any musical instrument, radio, television, tape recorder, phonograph
or any other sound-amplifying equipment.
Any activity or device that produces sound.
Any vehicle having mounted thereon or attached thereto sound-amplifying
equipment.
Any excessive or unreasonably loud sound made with the intent
to or which recklessly creates a risk of disturbing the peace, comfort
or repose of a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, injuring
or endangering the health or safety of a reasonable person of normal
sensitivities or causing injury to plant or animal life or damage
to property or business.
[Added 12-9-1997 by Ord. No. 272-1997; amended 9-16-1998 by Ord. No. 234-1998]
Any zone as defined in the Zoning Ordinance of the City of
New Rochelle.[1]
