Subtitle 2 – Basic Sound Level Standards

“Decibel” or “dB” means the unit of measurement of relative sound intensity equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the effective sound pressure to a reference pressure of 20 micronewtons per square meter.

In formula, dB = 20 Log₁₀ P/P₀ where P is the average pressure of the measured sound, and P₀ indicates the reference pressure considered to be the weakest audible pressure a young ear can detect under ideal listening conditions.

“Person” has the meaning stated in <cite data-path="|general|1|1|1-107|(a)">§ 1-107(a) {“Person: In general”}</cite> of the City Code’s <cite data-path="|general">General Provisions Article</cite>.

Notwithstanding <cite data-path="|general|1|1|1-107|(b)">§ 1-107(b) {“Person: Exclusion”}</cite> of the <cite data-path="|general">General Provisions Article</cite>, in this subtitle “person” also includes, except as used in <cite data-path="|health|§9-218">§ 9-218 {“Penalties”} of this subtitle</cite>, a governmental entity or an instrumentality or unit of a governmental entity.

all Commercial Zoning Districts;

all OIC Office-Industrial Campus Zoning Districts;

all BSC Bio-Science Campus Zoning Districts;

all IMU-1 and IMU-2 Industrial Mixed-Use Zoning Districts; and

all TOD Transit-Oriented Development Zoning Districts.

all I-1 Light Industrial Zoning Districts;

all I-2 General Industrial Zoning Districts; and

all MI Maritime Industrial Zoning Districts.

all Residential Zoning Districts; and

all Office-Residential Zoning Districts.

everyone is entitled to an ambient noise level that is not detrimental to life, health, or enjoyment of property;

the ambient noise level in the City should be controlled and reduced:

to those ends, standards for noise must be set and enforced, as provided in this subtitle.

No person may cause or permit a sound level that exceeds the applicable level specified in this subtitle.

No person may cause or permit a sound level from the construction, repair, or demolition of a structure or street that exceeds any applicable level set by a rule or regulation of Commissioner, except in accordance with a temporary exemption permit or as necessary to do emergency work.

No person may operate a motor vehicle so as to exceed any applicable sound level set by a rule or regulation of the Commissioner.

No person may use a vehicle horn except:

Except as otherwise specified in this subtitle, the maximum permissible sound levels are as set in this section for the applicable zone.

Where the property line of a use coincides with a zone boundary, the level specified in this section for the zone boundary controls.

Where the use is on a public street, the “property line” referred to in this section is the boundary of the public right-of-way.

75 dB(A) at any point on the property line of the use;

70 dB(A) at any point on a boundary that separates the manufacturing zone from a commercial zone; and

70 dB(A) at any point on a boundary that separates the manufacturing zone from a residential zone.

61 dB(A) at any point on the property line of the use;

64 dB(A) at any point on a boundary that separates the commercial zone from a manufacturing zone; and

58 dB(A) at any point on a boundary that separates the commercial zone from a residential zone.

55 dB(A) at any point on the property line of the use;

61 dB(A) at any point on a boundary that separates the residential zone from a manufacturing zone; and

58 dB(A) at any point on a boundary that separates the residential zone from a commercial zone.

5 dB(A) for a total of not more than 12 minutes in any 1-hour period;

10 dB(A) for a total of not more than 3 minutes in any 1-hour period; or

15 dB(A) for a total of not more than 30 seconds in any 1-hour period.

between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays; and

between the hours of 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekends and legal holidays.

for air conditioning equipment, 70 dB(A) at any point on the property line of any other residential property; and

for heat pump equipment, 75 dB(A) at any point on the property line of any other residential property.

An application for a temporary exemption must be made in the form that the Commissioner requires.

In addition to any other information that the Commissioner requires, the application must contain:

be in writing;

be signed by the Commissioner; and

set forth:

may be granted only for a period that is reasonable in view of all the facts, but in no case for more than 30 days;

may not be granted more than 3 times in any 1 calendar year for the same location; and

may not permit its holder to exceed the maximum permissible sound levels specified in this subtitle by more than 25 dB(A).

specify the nature and facts of the violation, including the dB(A) readings noted and the time and place of their detection; and

order corrective action to be taken within the time the Commissioner specifies.

Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, any person may bring a civil action against any person who is in violation of a noise control requirement of this subtitle.

An action under this subsection may not be brought:

an environmental citation under City Code <cite data-path="|1">Article 1</cite>, Subtitle 40 {“Environmental Control Board”}; or

a civil citation under City Code <cite data-path="|1">Article 1</cite>, Subtitle 41 {“Civil Citations”}.