§ 8.32.020. Definitions.
All terminology used in this chapter not defined in this section shall be in conformance with applicable publications of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or its successor body. The following words, phrases and terms as used in this chapter shall have the meanings as indicated in this section:
"Agricultural property" means a parcel of real property which is designated as agricultural on the city's official zoning map or used for agricultural purposes in accordance with the city's zoning ordinance.
"Ambient noise" means the composite of all noise from sources near and far, excluding the alleged intrusive noise source. The ambient noise constitutes the normal or existing level or environmental noise at a given location.
"A-weighted sound level" means the sound level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated in dB(A) or dBA.
"Commercial property" means a parcel of real property which is designated for commercial purposes on the city's official zoning map or used for commercial purposes in accordance with the city's zoning ordinance.
"Construction" means any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration, or similar action, for or of public or private rights-of-way, structures, utilities or similar property.
"Daytime" means the time period from seven a.m. to ten p.m.
"Decibel" means a unit for measuring the amplitude of a sound, equal to twenty times the logarithm to the base of ten of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is twenty micropascals.
"Emergency machinery, vehicle or alarm" means any machinery, vehicle or alarm used, employed, performed or operated in an effort to protect, provide or restore safe conditions in the community or for the citizenry, or used by private or public utilities when restoring utility service.
"Emergency work" means work made necessary to protect, provide or restore safe conditions in the community or for the citizenry, or work required to protect persons or property from an imminent exposure to danger or work by private or public utilities when restoring utility service.
"Fixed noise source" means a stationary device which creates sounds while in a fixed or stationary position including, but not limited to, industrial and commercial machinery and equipment, pumps, fan compressors, generators, air conditioners and refrigeration equipment.
"Impulsive noise" means a sound of short duration usually of high intensity and lasting less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay.
"Industrial property" means a parcel of real property which is designated for industrial purposes on the city's official zoning map or used for industrial purposes in accordance with the city zoning ordinance.
"Intrusive noise" means that alleged offensive noise which intrudes over and above the existing ambient noise at the receptor property.
"Leaf blower" means any portable power equipment powered by gasoline and used in any landscape maintenance, construction, property repair, or property maintenance for the purpose of blowing, dispersing, or redistributing dust, dirt, leaves, grass clippings, cuttings, and trimmings from trees, shrubs, or other debris.
"Mobile noise source" means any noise source other than a fixed noise source.
"Nighttime" means the time period from ten p.m. to seven a.m.
"Noise disturbance" means an alleged intrusive noise which violates an applicable noise standard as set forth in this chapter or any noise, as judged by the sheriff's department or a city official, that annoys or disturbs the peace or quiet of any person or neighborhood as listed herein.
"Noise level" means the A-weighted sound pressure level as measured using a slow dynamic characteristic for sound level meters.
"Person" means any individual, firm, association, partnership, joint venture or corporation.
"Pitch" means the frequency of a sound. "High pitch" refers to high frequencies and "low pitch" refers to low frequencies.
"Public right-of-way" means any street, parkway, trail, public way, sidewalk, bike path, or alley or similar place which is owned or controlled by a governmental entity.
"Real property boundary" means an imaginary line along the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one person from that owned by another person.
"Residential property" means a parcel of real property which is designated for residential purposes on the city's official zoning map or used for residential purposes in accordance with the city zoning ordinance.
"Sound amplifying equipment" means any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music, or any other sound regardless of location. Sound amplifying equipment as used in this chapter shall not include warning devices on any vehicles used for only traffic safety purposes.
"Sound level meter" means an instrument, including a microphone, an amplifier, an output meter and frequency weighing networks for the measurement of sound levels, which satisfies the requirements pertinent for type S2A meters in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters, S1.4-1971, or the most recent revision thereof.
(Ord. 594 § 1, 1997: prior code § 695.2)