Inspections and Inspection Requests

The County ordinance code states the following:

Sec. B11-154. - Prohibited acts.

(6) Construction/demolition.

1. Operating or causing the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, alteration or demolition work between weekdays and Saturday hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time on Sundays or holidays, that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial real property line, except for emergency work of public service utilities or by variance. This section will not apply to the use of domestic power tools as specified in Subsection 11.
2. Where technically and economically feasible, construction activities will be conducted in a manner that the maximum noise levels at affected properties will not exceed those listed in the following schedule:
   1. Mobile equipment. Maximum noise levels for nonscheduled, intermittent, short-term operation (less than ten days) of mobile equipment:

      	Single- and Two-Family Dwelling Residential Area	Multifamily Dwelling Residential Area	Commercial Area
      Daily, except Sundays and legal holidays 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.	75 dBA	80 dBA	85 dBA
      Daily, 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and all day Sunday and legal holidays	50 dBA	55 dBA	60 dBA

   2. Stationary equipment. Maximum noise levels for repetitively scheduled and relatively long-term operation (periods of ten days or more) of stationary equipment are as follows:

      	Single- and Two-Family Dwelling Residential Area	Multifamily Dwelling Residential Area	Commercial Area
      Daily, except Sundays and legal holidays 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.	60 dBA	65 dBA	70 dBA
      Daily, 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and all day Sunday and legal holidays	50dBA	55 dBA	60 dBA

(7) Vibration. Operating or permitting the operation of any device that creates a vibrating or quivering effect that:

1. Endangers or injures the safety or health of human beings or animals; or
2. Annoys or disturbs a person of normal sensitivities; or
3. Endangers or injures personal or real properties.

(8) Powered model vehicles. Operating or permitting the operation of powered model vehicles:

1. Between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day so as to create a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial real property line or at any time to violate the provisions of Section B11-152.
2. In a manner as to exceed the levels set forth for public space land use in Table B11-152, measured at a distance of not less than 100 feet (30 meters) from any point on the path of a vehicle operating on public space or public right-of-way.            

(9) Stationary non-emergency signaling devices. Sounding or permitting the sounding of any electronically amplified signal from any stationary bell, chime, siren, whistle or similar device, intended primarily for non-emergency purposes, from any place, for more than ten seconds in any hourly period.

(10) Emergency signaling devices.

1. The intentional sounding or permitting the sounding outdoors of any fire, burglar or civil defense alarm, siren, whistle or similar stationary emergency signaling device, except for emergency purposes or for testing, as provided in Subsection b.
2. Testing.
   1. Testing of a stationary emergency signaling device must not occur before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. Any testing will use only the minimum cycle test time. In no case will the test time exceed 60 seconds.
   2. Testing of the complete emergency signaling system, including the functioning of the signaling device, and the personnel response to the signaling device, will not occur more than once in each calendar month. The testing will not occur before 7:00 a.m. nor after 10:00 p.m. The time limit specified in subsection (i) will not apply to the complete system testing.
3. Sounding or permitting the sounding of any exterior burglar or fire alarm or any motor vehicle burglar alarm unless the alarm is terminated within 15 minutes of activation.

(11) Domestic power tools.

1. Operating or permitting the operation of any mechanically powered saw, sander, drill, grinder, lawn or garden tool, or similar tool between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day so as to create a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial real property line.
2. Any motor, machinery or pump will be sufficiently enclosed or muffled and maintained so as not to create a noise disturbance in accordance with Section B11-152.

(12) Air-conditioning or air-handling equipment. Operating or permitting the operation of any air-conditioning or air-handling equipment in a manner as to exceed any of the following sound levels without a variance:

Measurement Location;     dB(A)

•  Any point on neighboring property line, five feet above grade level, no closer than three feet from any wall .....50
• Center of neighboring patio, five feet above grade level, no closer than three feet from any wall .....45
• Outside the neighboring living area window nearest the equipment location, not more than three feet from the window opening, but at least three feet from any other surface .....45

(13) Swimming pool motors and equipment. Operating or permitting the operation of any swimming pool motor or swimming pool equipment that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property line or at any time violates the provisions of Section B11-152.

(14) Helicopters. Operating or permitting to be operated any helicopter which violates nighttime provisions of Section B11-152 or which causes a noise that exceeds 80 dBA during the day in residential or commercial areas without a variance. Military and government-operated helicopters are exempted from provisions of this section.

(15) Fixed noise source location. Installation or permitting the installation of any fixed noise source in the side yards of any residence without a variance.

(Ord. No. NS-517.72, § 2, 4-15-03)