A LOCAL LAW REPEALING CHAPTER 77 OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF MONTGOMERY ENTITLED "NOISE" AND ENACTING A NEW CHAPTER 77 ENTITLED “NOISE.”
BE IT ENACTED by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Montgomery as follows:
Section 1.
Chapter 77 of the Code of the Village of Montgomery entitled “Noise” is hereby repealed in its entirety and a new Chapter 77 of the Code of the Village of Montgomery entitled “Noise” is enacted as follows:
§77-1. Title.
This chapter shall be known as the “Village of Montgomery Noise Control Law.”
§77-2. Statement of Policy.
It is hereby declared the policy of the Village of Montgomery to safeguard the right of its residents within the privacy of their homes to be free from intrusive and unwanted sounds. Problems concerning the disturbance of peace and quiet by noise from various activities are best solved by thoughtful discussions and cooperative agreements between effected parties. However, to resolve remaining problems of noise which are disturbing to other, it is the policy of the Village of Montgomery to establish standards, variance procedures, enforcement procedures and penalties.
§77-3. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the following meanings:
AMBIENT NOISE or BACKGROUND NOISE – Noise of a measurable intensity that exists at a point as a result of a combination of many distant sources individually indistinguishable.
BUSINESS ZONE –B-1 and B-2 Districts as set forth in §122-6B of the Code of the Village of Montgomery and all uses associated therewith either permitted as of right or as a special use.
CONSTRUCTION – Any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration or similar action, but excluding demolition, for or of a public or private rights –of-way, structures, utilities or similar property.
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT – Any equipment or device operated by fuel or electric power used in construction or demolition work.
DAYTIME HOURS - The hours between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday and the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Sundays.
DECIBEL – A logarithmic unit of measure used in measuring magnitudes of sound, the symbol for which is dB.
DEMOLITION – Any dismantling, intentional destruction or removal of structures, utilities, public or private right-of-way surfaces or similar property.
DOMESTIC POWER EQUIPMENT – Not limited to power saws, drills, grinders, lawn and garden tools and other domestic power equipment intended for use in residential areas by a homeowner.
EMERGENCY - Any occurrence or set of circumstances in solving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage that demands immediate action.
EMERGNECY VEHICLE – Any motor vehicle authorized by the Village of Montgomery to have sound warning devices, such as sirens and bells, that can lawfully be used when responding to an emergency.
EMERGENCY WORK – Work made necessary to restore property to a safe condition following an emergency or work required to protect persons or property from exposure to imminent danger.
IMPULSE NOISE – Sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay.
HOLIDAYS – New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
INDUSTRIAL ZONE – I-1 and I-2 Districts as set forth in §122-6B of the Code of the Village of Montgomery and all uses associated therewith either permitted as of right or as a special use.
MUFFLER – A device for abating sounds such as escaping gases.
NIGHTTIME HOURS – The hours between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Sunday evening through Saturday morning and the hours of 9:00 p.m. Saturday through 9:00 a.m. Sunday.
NOISE – Any sound, the intensity of which exceeds the standards set forth in §77-5B of this chapter.
NOISE LEVEL – The sound pressure level as measured with a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated dB(A) or dBA.
NONREGISTERED RECREATIONAL VEHICLE – Any internal combustion engine powered vehicle that is being used for recreational purposes.
NONRESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT – Any zoning district that is not a residential zoning district. Nonresidential zoning districts include B-1, B-2, I-1 and I-2 zoning districts.
PERSON - Any individual, firm, partnership, syndicate, company, trust, corporation, municipality, agency or political or administrative subdivision of the state or other legal entity of any kind.
PREMISES - Any building, structure, land or portion thereof, including all appurtenances, and shall include yards, lots, courts, inner yards and real properties without buildings or improvements owned or controlled by a person. The emitter’s premises include contiguous publicly dedicated street and highway rights-of-way, all road rights-of-way and all waters of the state.
PROPERTY LINE – That real or imaginary line along the ground surface that separates real property owned or controlled by a person from contiguous real property owned or controlled by another person and separates real property from the public right-of-way.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY - Any street, avenue, boulevard, highway, sidewalk, alley, park, waterway, railroad or similar place that is owned or controlled by a governmental entity.
RESIDENTIAL ZONE - Those residential districts set forth in §122-6A of the Code of the Village of Montgomery as R-2, RA-3, R-4, R-4A, R- 5, R-6 and RM-1 and all uses associated therewith either permitted as of right or as a special use.
RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT - Any zoning district in which one-family detached dwellings or one-family, two-family and multi-family dwellings are permitted principal uses, including zoning districts R-2, RA-3, R-4, R-4A, R-5, R-6 and RM-1.
SOUND - A transmission of energy through solid, liquid or gaseous media in the form of vibrations which constitute alterations in pressure or position of particles in the medium and which, in air, evoke physiological sensations, including but not limited to, an auditory response when impinging on the ear.
SOUND LEVEL - The sound pressure level measured in decibels with a sound-level meter set to A-weighting, expressed in dB(A).
SOUND-LEVEL METER – An instrument for the measurement of sound levels that conform to Type 1 or Type 2 standards under ANSI specifications S1.4-1971 or the latest approved revision thereof.
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL – Twenty times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of a sound to the reference pressure of 20 micronewtons per square meter (20 x 10 Newtons/meter), and is expressed in decibels dB.
SOUND REPRODUCTION DEVICE – Any electronic or electrical device that is used for the production of sound, including but not limited to, any loudspeaker, radio, television, tape recorder, phonograph or any other sound-amplifying equipment.
UNREASONABLY INTRUSIVE – Any sound that either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of a reasonable person of normal sensitivities under the circumstances.
ZONING DISTRICT – Any zone as defined in the Zoning Law of the Village of Montgomery.
§77-4. Method of sound-level measurement; unregulated activities; maximum levels.
For the purposes of determining noise levels as set forth in this chapter, the following guidelines shall be applicable:
A. All personnel conducting sound measurements shall be trained in the current techniques and principles of sound-measuring equipment and instrumentation.
B. Instruments used to determine sound-level measurements shall conform to the sound-level meters as defined by this chapter.
C. The general steps listed below shall be followed when preparing to take sound-level measurements:
(1) The instrument manufacturer’s specific instructions for the preparation and use of the instrument shall be followed.
(2) The sound-level meter shall be calibrated before and after each set of measurements.
(3) When measurements are taken out of doors, a wind screen shall be placed over the microphone of the sound-level meter as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
(4) The sound-level meter shall be placed at an angle to the sound source as specified by the manufacturer’s instructions and at least four feet above the ground. It shall be so placed as not to be interfered with by individuals conducting the measurements.
(5) Measurements shall be taken at the point that is located about one foot beyond the boundary of the emitter’s premises. The emitter’s premises include his/her individual unit of land or group of contiguous parcels under the same ownership as indicated by public land records.
D. No person shall or no owner or occupant of any premises shall operate or use or
cause to be operated in the Village of Montgomery any sound source that produces a
sound level exceeding the limitation in this chapter. The measurement of any
sound or noise shall be made with a sound-level meter using the A-weighted scale
and slow response except for sounds or noises which occur in single or multiple
bursts with a duration of less than one second for which fast response shall be used.
The sound level determination or measurement shall be conducted not nearer to the
sound source than the closest property line of the parcel on which such noise is
generated, except where otherwise specified, and in no case on public or private
streets. When the determination or measurement is made for a dwelling unit of a
multiple-dwelling unit building as the receiving property, all exterior doors and
windows of the dwelling unit shall be closed and the determination or measurement
shall be taken in the center of the room.
E. Customary residential activities. Customary residential activities on properties
within any residential zoning district, including social gatherings, deliveries of
residential heating oil and pickup of residential garbage, as well as permitted
agricultural activities, shall not be regulated by this chapter, except for specific
activities or noise sources that are subject to and governed by this chapter and
set forth specifically herein.
F. Other activities. Noise produced by other activities on properties within any
residential or nonresidential zoning district shall not exceed the noise level
standards in §77-5.
§77-5. Noise levels; exceptions.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to emit or cause to be emitted any noise beyond the
boundaries of his/her premises in excess of the noise levels established in this chapter.
B. Noise level standards.
(1) No person in a residential zone shall emit noise beyond the boundaries of his/her
premises exceeding the levels stated herein and applicable to adjacent residential, business and industrial zones:
Receptor’s Zone
Residential Residential
Emitter’s Zone Industrial Business (day) (night)
Residential 62 dBA 55 dBA 55 dBA 45 dBA
Receptor’s Zone
Residential Residential
Emitter’s Zone Industrial Business (day) (night)
Business 62 dBA 62 dBA 55 dBA 45 dBA
Receptor’s Zone
Residential Residential
Emitter’s Zone Industrial Business (day) (night)
Industrial 70 dBA 66 dBA 61 dBA 51 dBA
C. High background noise levels and impulse noise.
(1) In those individual cases where the background noise levels caused by sources not subject to these regulations exceed the standards contained herein, a source shall be considered to cause excessive noise if the noise emitted by such source exceeds the background noise levels by five dBA, provided that no source subject to the provisions of this chapter shall emit noise in excess of 80 dBA at any time, and provided that this section does not decrease the permissible levels of other sections of this chapter.
(2) No person shall cause or allow the emission of impulse noise in excess of 80 dB peak sound pressure level during the nighttime to any residential noise zone.
(3) No person shall cause or allow the emission of impulse noise in excess of 100 dB peak sound pressure level at any time to any zone.
D. Exclusions. These levels shall not apply to noise emitted by or related to:
(1) Natural phenomena.
(2) Any bell or chime from any building clock, school or church.
(3) Any siren, whistle or bell lawfully used by emergency vehicles or any other alarm systems used in an emergency situation; provided, however, that burglar alarms not terminating within 15 minutes after being activated shall be unlawful.
(4) Warning devises required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or other state or federal safety regulations.
E. Exemptions. The following shall be exempt from these regulations, subject to special conditions as spelled out:
(1) Noise generated by any construction equipment that is operated during daytime hours, provided that the operation of construction equipment during nighttime hours shall not exceed the maximum noise levels as specified in §77-5B.
(2) Noise created as a result of or relating to an emergency.
(3) Noise from domestic power equipment, such as but not limited to power saws, sanders, grinders, lawn and garden tools or similar devices operated during daytime hours.
(4) Noise from snow removal equipment.
(5) Noise from demolition work conducted during daytime hours, provided that when considered emergency work, demolition shall be exempted at all times from the noise levels set in this regulation.
(6) Noise created by any aircraft flight operations that are specifically preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration.
(7) Noise created by any recreational activities that are permitted by law and for which a license or permit has been granted by the Village, including but not limited to, parades, sporting events, concerts and fireworks displays.
(8) Noise created by blasting, other than that conducted in connection with construction activities, shall be exempt, provided that the blasting is conducted between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. local time at specified hours previously announced to the local public, or provided that a permit for such blasting has been obtained from local authorities.
(9) Noise created by refuse and solid waste collection, provided that the activity is conducted during daytime hours.
(10)For sound reproduction devices used in connection with weddings or similar
events on any property used for residential purposes, sound levels in excess of
those permitted in this chapter are allowed, provided that such sound levels do not
exceed 65 dB(A) on any property used for residential purposes within any
residential zoning district and provided that sound levels in excess of those
permitted in §77-5A cease by 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday or Thursday nights and by 12:30 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday
mornings.
(11)Sounds connected with activities and equipment of the Village of Montgomery
Public Works Department and the Police Department are exempted from the
limitations of this chapter.
§77-6 Prohibited noise activities.
The following activities are prohibited:
A. Vehicle horns. No person shall at any time sound any horn or other audible signal device of a motor vehicle unless it is necessary as a warning to prevent or avoid a traffic accident.
B. Truck idling. No person shall operate an engine or any standing motor vehicle with a weight in excess of 10,000 pounds manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight (GVW) for a period in excess of 10 minutes when such vehicle is parked on residential premises or on a Village street next to a residential premises.
C. Exhaust discharge. No person shall discharge into the ambient air the blow-down of any steam vent or the exhaust of any stationary internal combustion engine or air compressor equipment, unless such discharge be through a muffler as defined in §77-3 of this chapter or through an apparatus providing equal noise reduction.
D. Burglar alarms. Sound from an exterior burglar alarm of any building or motor vehicle shall terminate within 15 minutes after it has been activated.
E. Animals. It shall be unlawful for any owner of or any other person harboring any animal to permit or allow such animal while in the Village of Montgomery to engage in habitual loud howling or barking that is unreasonable intrusive. Engaging in habitual loud howling, barking, whining or causing disturbing noises shall be a violation of this chapter if the habitual loud howling, barking or whining continues for a period of 15 minutes in a continuous or substantially continuous manner, that can be heard by neighboring property owners and that unreasonably disturbs neighboring property owners.
F. Exhaust and mufflers. No person shall cause or permit the operation of any device, vehicle, construction equipment or lawn maintenance equipment, including but not limited to, any diesel engine, internal combustion engine or turbine engine that has been modified or become defective so as to cause the level of sound emitted to be greater than that emitted as originally manufactured.
§77-7. Permitted and regulated noises.
A. Air-conditioning and air-handling equipment. No person shall or no owner or
occupant of any premises shall operate or permit to be operated or use or cause to be operated an air-conditioning or air-handling device that produces a sound level greater than 55 dB(A) on any other property used for residential purposes within any residential zoning district. However, this limitation shall not apply to property operating air-conditioning equipment installed in residential zoning districts prior to enactment of this chapter.
B. Construction activities. Any building or construction activity, including the clearing and removal of trees or other site preparation work that is audible outside of a building or structure, is permitted only as follows:
(1) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, except holidays, during
daytime hours.
(2) Saturday, Sunday and holidays during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
except that blasting is not permitted on Sundays and holidays.
(3) As may be permitted by a variance granted by the Board of Trustees as outlined
in §77-9 herein.
C. Domestic tools and equipment; vehicle repair.
(1) In addition to the restrictions of §33A-6, no person shall or owner or occupant of any premises shall operate or permit or use or cause to be operated any hand tool or power tool or equipment, including but not limited to, saws, hammers, sanders, drills, grinders, lawn or garden tools, mowers, tractors, chain saws, leaf blowers or gatherers or similar devices or wood chippers of any kind, or cause or permit vehicle repair or engine tune-up activities so as to create noise in excess of the following limits. This prohibition includes equipment used by lawn care or landscape services.
(2) Noise levels from domestic tools and equipment and from vehicle repair during daytime hours, Monday through Friday, except holidays, and 9:00 a.m. to sundown, Saturday, Sunday and holidays, shall not be restricted by this subsection. At all other times, such noise levels shall not exceed 45 dB(A) on any other property used for residential purposes within any residential zoning district.
(3) However, use of snow blowers, chain saws and other domestic tools and equipment are exempted from these limits when they are being used to clear driveways, streets or walkways during and within 48 hours after snowfalls, rainstorms, ice storms, windstorms or similar emergencies.
D. Noise from sound reproduction devices in motor vehicles.
(1) Noise levels from sound reproduction devices emanating from motor vehicles during daytime hours shall not exceed 60 decibels as measured from the nearest curb or edge of roadway nor shall such noises be audible more than 50 feet from the motor vehicle from which the noise emanates. During nighttime hours, such noise levels shall not exceed 45 decibels as measured from the nearest curb or edge of roadway nor be audible more than 25 feet from the motor vehicle from which the noise emanates.
(2) Nothing herein shall be deemed to apply to noise emanating from the operation of motor vehicles on public highways, which is regulated by the New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law; nor shall it be deemed to apply to equipment operation used in connection with the operation of motor vehicles , such as mufflers and horns, which are further regulated by the New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law; nor shall this subsection be deemed to apply to motor vehicles regulated by the Federal Noise Control Act of 1972.
§77-8. Recreational vehicle noise.
No person shall create or cause to be created any unreasonably loud or disturbing noise due to the operation of a recreational vehicle. A noise shall be deemed unreasonably loud and a violation of this chapter when the noise so generated exceeds the noise level standards set forth in §77-5B for residential zones.
§77-9. Variances.
A. Where there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in the way of carrying out the strict letter of this chapter, the Board of Trustees shall have the power, in passing upon a petition for a variance duly made pursuant to Subsection E by owners of properties with non-residential uses that would be in violation of other subsections of this chapter, to vary or modify the application of any of the regulations or provisions of this chapter so that the spirit of this chapter shall be observed, public health, safety and welfare secured and substantial justice done.
B. No variation or adjustment in the strict application of any regulations or provisions of this chapter shall be granted by the Board of Trustees unless it finds that:
(1) The applicant has demonstrated good and sufficient cause for the granting of a variance. Such demonstration shall be founded upon a fair consideration of the circumstances presented pertinent to the petition, including but not limited to:
(a) The social utility of the use or activity for which a variance is sought.
(b) The nature and degree of the variance from prescribed standards that result from such use or activity.
(c) The impact of such use or activity on other residents and properties.
(d) The nature and cost of available measures that may be taken to mitigate the impact of such use or activity.
(2) There are unique or special circumstances or conditions, fully described in the findings of the Board of Trustees, applying to the activity or the use of land, property or facilities for which the variance is sought that warrants the granting of a variance on the ground of practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship.
(3) The granting of a variance is necessary to enable the applicant to conduct the activity or use for which a variance is sought without unreasonable burden or restriction, and the variance as granted by the Board of Trustees is the minimum adjustment that will accomplish such purpose.
(4) The granting of the variance will be in harmony with the general purposes and intent of this chapter, will not be injurious to the community or any neighborhood or otherwise detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare and will not be in conflict with other laws or inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan of the Village.
C. The Board of Trustees, in passing upon a petition for a variance under this chapter, may limit the effective period of any variance granted and may impose upon the grant or operation of any variance such conditions in furtherance of the public interest as the Board of Trustees finds necessary or appropriate.
D. The Board of Trustees shall retain continuing jurisdiction over and with respect to any variance granted under this chapter, and it shall have the fullest powers and authority allowed by law to review, re-hear, modify, reverse or annul, for good cause shown, any order, resolution, decision or determination made with respect to a petition for or the granting of a variance under this chapter. No such review, reconsideration or action shall be taken except upon and after notice and a hearing as provided n Subsections F and G.
E. All such appeals shall be in writing and each appeal or application shall refer to the specific provisions of this chapter and shall exactly set forth the details of the variance that is applied for and the grounds on which it is claimed that the same should be granted. Any petition for a variance shall also identify all practical steps that have been taken or that are proposed to be taken by the applicant to reduce noise.
F. Notice of hearing. Notice of any hearing shall be published by the Board of Trustees in the official newspaper at least 5 days prior to the date of the hearing. Notice of the hearing shall also be mailed by the Board of trustees to the parties at least 5 days before such hearing. The applicant shall mail, by certified mail, notice of the hearing to all abutting property owners and to all owners of property situated directly across a street from the property affected by such appeal. Proof of such mailing shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees by the applicant prior to the hearing. The applicant shall be responsible for the cost of publication and mailing of such notice.
G. Hearing. The Board of Trustees shall conduct a public hearing on any applications made pursuant to this chapter. At such public hearings all those present and wishing to be heard shall be given an opportunity to be heard.
H. For a period of 90 days after this chapter becomes effective, a properly filed application for a variance shall exempt the applicant from the specific provisions of this chapter from which a variance is being sought, from the date of filing of the application until the Board of Trustees has ruled on the application.
§77-10. Effect on other provisions.
The provisions of this chapter shall in no case remove or render less restrictive limitations on noise generation or other conditions imposed for specific properties by actions of the Village of Montgomery Zoning Board of Appeals or by actions of the Village of Montgomery Planning Board or required under other applicable laws or regulations.
§77-11. Enforcement.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Police Department of the Village of Montgomery, building or code enforcement officials of the Village of Montgomery or other officials designated by the Board of Trustees.
§77-12. Inspections.
A. For the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the Police Department and building or code enforcement officials of the Village of Montgomery or other officials designated by the Board of Trustees, are hereby authorized to make inspections of all noise sources and to take measurements and make tests whenever necessary to determine the quantity and character of noise. In the event that any person refuses or restricts entry and free access to any part of a premises or refuses inspection, testing or noise measurement of any activity, device, facility or process where inspection is sought, the Police Department or building or code enforcement officials of the Village of Montgomery or other officials designated by the Board of Trustees, may seek from the appropriate court a warrant, without interference, restriction or obstruction, at a reasonable time, for the purpose of inspecting, testing or measuring noise.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to allow or permit the Police Department or building or code enforcement officials of the Village of Montgomery or other officials designated by the Board of Trustees, free access to any premises when the Police Department or building or code enforcement departments of the Village of Montgomery is acting in compliance with a warrant for inspection and order issued by the appropriate court.
C. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate the provisions of any warrant or court order requiring inspection, testing or measurement of noise sources.
D. No person shall hinder, obstruct, delay, resist, prevent in any way, interfere or attempt to interfere with any authorized person while in the performance of his/her duties under this chapter.
§77-13. Penalties for offenses.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of an offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined an amount not exceeding $250.00 for each offense. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
Section 2. Severability.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this local law be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have be rendered.
Section 3. Effective Date.
This local law shall take effect upon the filing of certified copies thereof with the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with the Municipal Home Rule Law.