§ 15.70.020. General provisions.  


Latest version.
  • A.

    Policy. Whereas excessive sound and vibration are a serious hazard to public health and welfare and the quality of life, whereas a substantial body of science and technology exists by which excessive sound and vibration may be significantly abated, and whereas the people of the municipality have a right to an environment free from excessive sound and vibration that may jeopardize their health and welfare or degrade the quality of life, it is therefore the policy of the municipality to prevent excessive noise that may jeopardize the health or welfare of its citizens or degrade the quality of life.

    B.

    Exceptions. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of any emergency or the emission of sound in the performance of emergency work.

    C.

    Responsibility for violations involving motor vehicle. It shall be a rebuttable presumption that the owner of a motor vehicle that violates or exceeds any provision of this chapter has caused or permitted the operation or driving of that motor vehicle.

    D.

    Sound level measurements. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause to be operated any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level that exceeds the equivalent sound level limits of specific decibel sound level limits set forth in this chapter when such equivalent sound level limits are measured at some other distance according to testing procedures established pursuant to section 15.70.040.B.1, except as otherwise required by federal law.

(GAAB 16.85.020; AO No. 78-48)