This chapter shall be known as the "Town of
Hudson Noise Control Ordinance."
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the
Town of Hudson to safeguard the right of its residents within the
privacy of their homes to be free from intrusive unwanted sounds.
Problems concerning disturbance of peace and quiet by noise from various
activities are best solved by thoughtful discussions and cooperative
agreements between affected parties. However, to resolve remaining
problems of noise which is disturbing to others, it is the policy
of enforcement procedures and penalties.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
DECIBEL (DB)
A unit for measuring the volume of sound, equal to 20 times
the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the sound pressure of
the measured sound to a standard pressure of 20 micronewtons per square
meter.
DOMESTIC TOOLS
Hand tools or power tools or equipment, including but not
limited to saws, hammers, sanders, drills, grinders, lawn or similar
devices or wood chippers of any kind, log splitters or pneumatic-operated
tools.
HOLIDAYS
New Year's Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence
Day, Labor Day, Yom Kippur, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas.
SOUND LEVEL
The sound pressure level measured in decibels with a sound
level meter set to A weighting expressed in dBA.
SOUND LEVEL METER
An instrument for the measurement of sound levels which conforms
to Type 1 or Type 2 standards under ANSI specifications S1.4-1971
or the latest approved revision thereof.
SOUND REPRODUCTION DEVICE
Any electronic or electrical device that is used for the
production of sound, including but not limited to any loudspeaker,
radio, television, tape recorder, phonograph or any other sound amplifying
equipment.
UNREASONABLY INTRUSIVE
Any sound which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers
the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of a reasonable person
of normal sensitivities under the circumstances; a sound reproductive
device that raises the ambient level at the property line of a receiver
by 10 dB more than 10% of the time during the course of one hour.
VEHICLE REPAIR
Any type of vehicle repair or engine tuneup activities.
ZONING DISTRICT
Any zone as defined in Chapter
105, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Hudson.
The provisions of this chapter shall in no case
remove or render less restrictive limitations on noise generation
or other conditions imposed for specific properties by actions of
the Town of Hudson or required under other applicable laws or regulations.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced
by the Town of Hudson and/or the Sheriff's Department of St. Croix
County.
Any person who violates any provision of this
chapter and is found guilty of an offense shall pay a forfeiture not
exceeding $250. Each day that a violation shall continue will constitute
a separate offense. Penalties and/or forfeitures in this chapter are
also covered in the Citation Ordinance. If there is a conflict between this chapter and the Citation
Ordinance, the Citation has precedence.