This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "City of Auburn
Noise Ordinance."
The purpose of this chapter is to preserve the public health, peace,
welfare and good order by suppressing the making, creation or maintenance
of excessive, unnecessary, unnatural or unusually loud noises which are prolonged,
unusual and unnatural in their time, place and use and which are detrimental
to the environment.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue or cause to be
made or continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any noise which
endangers the health, safety or welfare of the community or which annoys,
disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, rest, health, peace or safety
of others within the City of Auburn.
The following acts, among others, are declared to be loud, unnecessary and disturbing and a danger to the health, safety and welfare of the community and its people in violation of §
210-3, but the enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive:
A. Using, operating or permitting to be played, used or
operated any radio, television, hi-fi, stereo, phonograph, CD player or other
machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in a manner as
to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of any persons in the vicinity. The
operation of any of the devices set forth in this subsection in such a manner
as to be plainly audible at a distance of 15 feet from the building, structure,
device or vehicle in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of
a violation of this section. A person who causes the production of said sound
through the operation of the machines or devices enumerated herein may be
deemed a violator of this chapter.
[Amended 6-6-2002 by Ord. No. 10-2002]
B. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing or the
making of loud or disturbing noises by the use of clappers, bells, horns,
musical instruments or similar devices at any time or place so as to unreasonably
annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or rest of any person in any residence,
hospital, school, place of business, street or public place.
C. The keeping of any animal which, by causing frequent
or long-continued noise, shall disturb the comfort or repose of any person
in the vicinity.
D. The use of any automobile, motorcycle, truck or vehicle
operated in such a manner as to create loud and unnecessary grating, grinding,
rattling or other noise.
E. The operation or use of any power lawn mower, chain saw,
fence post driller or other similar devices between the hours of 10:00 p.m.
and 7:00 a.m.
F. Any of the following activities when occurring in close
proximity to residents between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.: the warming up or
idling of buses, trucks or tractors and the unnecessary or unreasonable or
repeated idling, acceleration or deceleration or starting and stopping of
automobiles or motorcycles.
G. The operation of construction equipment between the hours
of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on any day or at any time on Sunday. Such equipment
includes, but is not limited to, pile drivers, pneumatic hammers, derricks,
dredges, tractors, earth-moving equipment and other similar construction equipment.
H. The use, by any vehicle, of engine driven braking system (such
as "Jake Brakes®") within the Cty limits.
[Added 3-8-2007 by Ord. No. 4-2007]
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the following:
A. The production of music in connection with any military
or civic parade, funeral procession or religious service or school activities
or functions.
B. Use of any organ, bell, chimes or any other similar device
by any church, synagogue or school on or within its own premises in connection
with religious rites or ceremonies of such church or synagogue or in connection
with a school education program.
C. Sounds created by any governmental agency by the use
of public warning devices, including but not limited to police and fire vehicles.
D. Sounds connected with sporting events of any public or
private school, burglar alarms or other warning devices when properly installed
on publicly or privately owned property, provided that the cause for such
alarm or warning device producing the sound is investigated and turned off
within a reasonable period of time.
E. Emergency construction work, upon permission of the City
Manager, which is necessary for the protection of life or property.
Any person, alone or in concert with others, who shall violate any provision
of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation and, upon conviction thereof,
shall be subject to a fine of not more than $250 or to imprisonment not exceeding
15 days, or both.