New Law Tries to Clean Up Noise Pollution

New rules governing how much and how long excessive noise can be made in town were approved by the council Wednesday night.

Officials were required to update the rules governing neighborhood noise in town after state officials approved new regulations.

Pets will not be allowed to create noises across property lines that disturb a resident’s “peace” and “comfort,’ the legislation states.

Pets cannot howl, bark, or squawk un-interrupted for five minutes with an average of four or more vocalizations a minute or for 20 minutes with an average of two or more vocalizations per minute.

“If we all are just courteous to one another, we don’t even care about the law because we’re all operating that way,” said Councilwoman Lonni Miller Ryan, who sponsored the legislation. “But this is in place because it is required to be by law and not everyone wants to be a good neighbor. “

Music must not be able to be heard past 50 feet of where it is originating from between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. in a public space; between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., the range drops to 25 feet. The same limits exist for vehicle stereos.

Burglar alarms on buildings and vehicles with alerts that constantly beep must stop beeping after five minutes. Those with alarms that sound intermittently must terminate after 15 minutes.

The rules establish that items such as power tools and maintenance equipment not exceed 65 decibels outdoors between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and 50 decibels between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on residential properties; the limit is 65 decibels on public and commercial properties 24 hours a day.

When measured indoors, noise levels can’t exceed 55 decibels between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., 40 between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and 55 on public and commercial properties 24 hours a day.

Except for emergency work, power tools and maintenance equipment cannot be used on weekdays between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. or between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. on weekends and federal holidays unless they meet decibel limits set in the legislation.

The same is true for construction and demolition activity, excluding emergency work. Such work cannot be done between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays or between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. on weekends and federal holidays.

“This law actually gives residents the ability to work on their homes on the weekend, which is important,” Ryan said.

The previous legislation only permitted construction and demolition activity between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays, and then only with a permit.

Violators may be fined up to $3,000.

Noise control officers and noise control investigators (NCI), municipal employees who receive training, will issue summonses to residents who violate the legislation. NCIs can only enforce portions of the legislation that do not require the use of a sound level meter.

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