§ 23.06.046. Interior Noise Level Standards.

The interior noise level standards of this section are applicable when the land use which is the source of noise and the land use which is affected by noise are both residential uses as listed in Table O, Framework for Planning of the Land Use Element and Local Coastal Plan, except for residential accessory uses and temporary dwellings.

a.

No person shall operate or cause to be operated a source of noise within a residential use in any location in the unincorporated areas of the county or allow the creation of any noise which causes the noise level when measured inside a residential use located in either the incorporated or unincorporated area to exceed the interior noise level standards in the following table:

INTERIOR NOISE LEVEL STANDARDS
	Daytime (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)	Nighttime (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.)
Hourly Equivalent Sound Level (L eq , dB)	40	35
Maximum level, dB	60	55

 

b.

In the event the measured ambient noise level exceeds the applicable interior noise level standard in subsection (a), the applicable standard shall be adjusted so as to equal the ambient noise level plus one dB.

c.

Each of the interior noise level standards specified in subsection (a) shall be reduced by five dB for simple tone noises, noises consisting primarily of speech or music, or for recurring impulsive noises.

d.

If the intruding noise source is continuous and cannot reasonably be discontinued or stopped for a time period whereby the ambient noise level can be measured, the noise level measured while the source is in operation shall be compared directly to the interior noise level standards.

[Added 1992, Ord. 2546]