[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Havre de Grace 3-2-1992 by Ord. No. 756. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Civil sanctions — See Ch. 1, Art. I.
Mufflers on boats — See Ch. 28, Art. I.
Loitering — See Ch. 108.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
NOISE DISTURBANCE
Any sound which annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensibilities or jeopardizes the value of property and erodes the integrity of the environment or causes actual or imminent interference with the peace or good order.
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
An area designated as R-1 Residential District, R-2 Residential District, RB Residential Business District, or RO Residential Office District, as shown on the Zoning Map of Havre de Grace, Maryland.
A. 
General prohibitions. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to make, continue or cause to be made or to create a noise disturbance within the limits of the City of Havre de Grace after having been directed or ordered by a police officer to desist in creating such disturbances except as provided in this chapter.
B. 
Specific prohibitions.
(1) 
Horns and signaling devices. The sounding of any horn or signaling device on any automobile, motorcycle, boat or other vehicle in the City of Havre de Grace in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance shall be unlawful.
(2) 
Radios, television sets, phonographs, musical instruments and similar devices.
(a) 
Operating or permitting the use or operation of any such device for the production or reproduction of sound in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance shall be unlawful.
(b) 
Operating any such device in a manner as to be plainly audible across real property boundaries and/or through partitions common to parties within a building or plainly audible at 50 feet from such device when operated on a street, way, avenue, lane or any public property shall be unlawful.
(3) 
Motor vehicles. Operating any motor vehicle which is out of repair or does not have a muffler operating within the manufacturer's specifications in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance shall be unlawful.
(4) 
Construction equipment. Operating or causing to be operated any equipment used in commercial construction, repair, alteration or demolition work on buildings, structures, streets, alleys, lanes or appurtenances thereto between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance shall be unlawful except as permitted or sanctioned by the Mayor and City Council of Havre de Grace.
(5) 
Power equipment. Operating or causing to be operated any power saw, sander, drill, grinder, garden equipment or tools of a similar nature outdoors in a residential district between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance shall be unlawful.
(6) 
Unamplified human voice. Using the unamplified human voice by yelling, shouting or by any other means in such a manner as to cause a noise disturbance shall be unlawful.
(7) 
Security alarms. Activation of an audible security alarm for a period in excess of 15 minutes shall be unlawful.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 9, Alarm Systems.
The following shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
A. 
The sounding of safety signals and warning devices as a danger warning in such a manner as would otherwise cause a noise disturbance.
B. 
The operation by the United States Government, the State of Maryland, Harford County, Maryland, the Mayor and City Council of Havre de Grace, a volunteer fire company, a volunteer ambulance corps or other local government agency or a public service company as defined by Article 78 of the Maryland Annotated Code of a vehicle or equipment in response to an emergency in such a manner as would otherwise cause a noise disturbance.
C. 
Producing or emitting noises generated from the provision of municipal services by the Mayor and City Council of Havre de Grace or its agents in such a manner as would otherwise cause a noise disturbance.
D. 
Producing or emitting noise generated by parades, public gatherings and any other activity which is permitted or sanctioned by the Mayor and City Council of Havre de Grace in such a manner as would otherwise cause a noise disturbance.
E. 
The sounding of bells, chimes or carillons while being used for religious purposes or in conjunction with religious services or for national or state celebrations or public holidays and those bells, chimes, carillons that are presently installed and in use for any purpose in such a manner as would otherwise cause a noise disturbance.
F. 
Operation of lawn maintenance equipment when it is functioning within manufacturer's specifications and with all mufflers and noise-reducing equipment in use and in proper operating condition between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. in such a manner as would otherwise cause a noise disturbance.
G. 
The production or generation of nonamplified crowd noises resulting from the activities such as those conducted by day-care centers, schools, governmental or community groups in such a manner as would otherwise cause a noise disturbance.
H. 
The production or generation of electronically amplified announcements at athletic events in such a manner as would otherwise cause a noise disturbance.
The Board of Appeals shall have the authority to grant variances from the literal enforcement of this chapter.
A. 
Written application. Any person seeking a variance from this chapter shall file a written application with the Director of Administration.
B. 
Factors to be considered in the decision of the Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals shall consider the factors set forth in § 25-17B of Article III, Board of Appeals, of Chapter 25, Boards, Committees and Commissions, in granting or denying the variance.
C. 
Appeals. Any party aggrieved by a decision of the Board of Appeals may appeal to the Circuit Court for Harford County in the manner set forth in the applicable sections of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended.