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<section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="3-105" title_number="3" title_name="Noise Control" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in this section, this title does not limit the power of a political subdivision to adopt noise control ordinances, rules, or regulations.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A political subdivision may not adopt any noise control ordinance, rule, or regulation that is less stringent than the environmental noise standards, sound level limits, and noise control rules and regulations adopted under this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>A political subdivision may not adopt any noise control ordinance, rule, or regulation, including the environmental noise standards, sound level limits, and noise control rules and regulations adopted under this title, that prohibits trapshooting, skeetshooting, or other target shooting between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. by a shooting sports club that is chartered and in operation as of January 1, 2001.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>This paragraph does not apply in Baltimore City or Allegany, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, St. Mary’s, and Washington counties.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, Allegany County, Anne Arundel County, Garrett County, Washington County, or a political subdivision of Allegany County, Anne Arundel County, Garrett County, or Washington County may not adopt any noise control ordinance, rule, or regulation, including the environmental noise standards, sound level limits, and noise control rules and regulations adopted under this title, that prohibits trapshooting, skeetshooting, or other target shooting between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. by a shooting sports club that is chartered and in operation as of January 1, 2005.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>Subject to the provisions of subsubparagraph 2 of this subparagraph, Allegany County, Anne Arundel County, Garrett County, Washington County, or a political subdivision of Allegany County, Anne Arundel County, Garrett County, or Washington County may adopt any noise control ordinance, rule, or regulation, including the environmental noise standards, sound level limits, and noise control rules and regulations adopted under this title, that prohibits trapshooting, skeetshooting, or other target shooting between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. by a shooting sports club that the responsible political subdivision determines is not in compliance as of January 1, 2005 with environmental noise standards, sound level limits, or noise control rules or regulations adopted under this title.</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>A noise control ordinance, rule, or regulation adopted under subsubparagraph 1 of this subparagraph shall allow trapshooting, skeetshooting, and other target shooting between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. by a shooting sports club that the responsible political subdivision determines has become compliant with environmental noise standards, sound level limits, and noise control rules and regulations adopted under this title.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Carroll County or a political subdivision of Carroll County may not enforce any noise control ordinance, rule, or regulation, including the environmental noise standards, sound level limits, and noise control rules and regulations adopted under this title, against a public school in Carroll County that violates the ordinance, rule, or regulation between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Each political subdivision is encouraged to consider:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Compliance with State or local noise standards before acting on any proposed variance requests or changes in zoning classifications; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Whether the permit or activity will be in compliance with local and State noise control standards, prior to the issuance of a building, activity permit, or similar authorizing document.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
