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Ordinance 011-1978 ORDINANCE NO.ll - 1978 AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA: ENTITLED "NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY OF MONROE": ADOPTING CONTROLS ON THE EMISSIONS OF NOISE: ADOPTING STANDARDS AND ACCEPTABLE NOISE LEVELS: PROVIDING DEFI- NITIONS: MAKING IT UNLAWFUL TO EXCEED SAID STANDARDS: PROVIDING PROCEDURES FOR MEASURING SOUND LEVELS: ESTABLISHING AN ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM: PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY: REPEALING PRIOR NOISE ORDINANCE: PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA AS FOLLOWS: ARTICLE I. SHORT TITLE This ordinance may be cited as the "Noise Control Ordinance of the County of Monroe". ARTICLE II. DECLARATION OF FINDINGS AND POLICY: SCGPE 2.1 DECLARATION OF FINDINGS AND POLICY WHEREAS, excessive sound constitutes a menace to the public health and welfare and the quality of life: WHEREAS, a substantial body of science and technology exists by which excessive sound may be substantially abated: WHEREAS, the Florida Constitution establishes the right of the people to an environment free from excessive and unnessary sound: and WHEREAS, excessive and unnecessary sound that may jeopardize human health or welfare or may substantially degrade the quality of life is well within the purview of this governing body's police powers: NOW THEREFORE, it is the policy of the County of Monroe to prevent, prohibit and provide for the abatement of excessive and unnecessary noise which may injure the health or welfare of its citizens or degrade the quality of life. 2.2 SCOPE This ordinance shall apply to the control of all sound origi- nating within the unincorporated area of Monroe County, Florida. APPROVED ON ~.1-19 f't,GE ___ oof\ ~:I Boo:<5 ~2- ARTICLE III. DEFINITIONS AND STANDARDS 3.1 TERMINOLOGY AND STANDARDS All terminology used in this ordinance, not defined below, shall be in conformance with applicable publications of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or its successor body. 3.2.1 "A-WEIGHTED SOUND LEVEL" MEANS The sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated dBA. 3.2.2 "COMMERCIAL AREA" MEANS Any area lying within aBU-I, BU-2, or RU-7 zoned area as shown on the official zoning maps of Monroe County, Florida. The term "commercial" shall mean the same as "business" and shall also include any RU-3 area devoted to hotel or motel use. 3.2.3 "DECIBEL (dB)" MEANS A unit for describing the amplitude of sound, equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons per square meter). 3.2.4 "EMERGENCY" MEANS Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage which demands immediate action. 3.2.5 "EMERGENCY WORK" MEANS Any work performed for the purpose of preventing or alleviating the physical trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an emergency. 3.2.6 "(ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICE/NOISE CONTROL OFFICE (EPO/NCO) )" MEANS The Monroe County Planning and Zoning Department which shall be the aepartment having lead responsibility for the enforcement of this ordinance but the same may be enforced by State or county law enforcement personnel. ~lf -3- 3.2.7 "INDUSTRIAL AREA" MEANS Any area zoned BU-3 as shown on the official zoning maps of Monroe County, Florida. 3.2.8 MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING" MEANS A building or other shelter that has been divided into separate units to house more than one family and shall include the term "duplex". 3.2.9 "NOISE" MEANS Any sound which annoys or disturbs humans or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans. 3.2.10 "NOISE DISTURBANCE" MEANS Any sound in quantities which are or may be potentially harmful or injurious to human health or welfare, animal or plant life or property, or unnecessarily interfere with the enjoyment of life or property, including outdoor recreation, of a reasonable person with normal sensitivities. 3.2.11 "PERSON" MEANS Any individual, association, partnership, or corporation, and includes any officer, employee, department, agency or in- strumentality of the United States, a State or any political sub- division of a State. 3.2.12 "PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY" MEANS Any street, avenue, boulevard, highway, sidewalk or alley or simila): place normally accessible to the public which is owned or controlled by a governmental entity or which has been dedicated to use for the benefit of the public or adjacent property owners. 3.2.13 "PUBLIC SPACE" MEANS Any real property or structures thereon normally accessible to the public. 3.2.14 "REAL PROPERTY LINE" MEANS An imaginary line along the surface, and its vertical plane extension, which separates the real property owned, rented or 9,$ -4- leased by one person from that owned, rented, or leased by another person, excluding intra-building real property divisions. 3.2.15 "RESIDENTIAL AREA" MEANS Any area zoned as RU-l, RU-1M, RU-1E, RU-2, and RU-3 (except motels and/or hotels), RU-4, RU-5, RU-5P, and RU-6 as shown on the official zoning maps of Monroe County, Florida. 3.2.16 "SOUND" MEANS An oscillation in pressure, stress, particle displacement, particle velocity of other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces. The description of sound may include any character- istic of such sound, including duration, intensity and frequency. 3.2.17 "SOUND LEVEL" MEANS The weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a metering characteristic and weighting A, B, or C as specified in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters, ANSI Sl.4-1971, or in successor publications. If the weighting employed is not indicated, the A-weighting shall apply. 3.2.18 "SOUND LEVEL METER" MEANS An instrument which includes a microphone, amplifier, RMS detector, integrator or time averager, output meter, and weighting networks used to measure sound pressure levels. The output meter reads sound pressure level when properly calibrated, and the instrument is of Type 2 or better, as specified in the American National standards Institute Publication Sl.4-1977, or its successor publications. 3.2.19 "PLACE OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT" MEANS Any establishment in Monroe County requiring a business and/or occupational license and which provides music, dancing and/or any other form of entertainment. 3.2.20 "WEEKDAY"MEANS Any day Monday through Friday which is not a legal holiday. ARTICLE IV. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE (ENVIRONMENTAL (NOISE CONTROL) OFFICE 4.1 LEAD (AGENCY/OFFICIAL) The noise control program established by this ordinance shall be administered by the Monroe County Planning and Zoning Department. ~(p -5- 4.2 POWERS OF THE (ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION)/(NOISE CONTROL) OFFICE. In order to implement and enforce this ordinance and for the general purpose of noise abatement and contro, the EPO/NCO shall have, in addition to any other authority vested in it, the power to: 4.2.1 STUDIES Conduct, or cause to be conducted, studies, research, and monitoring related to noise and make appropriate recommendations on results of said studies. 4.2.2 EDUCATION (a) Conduct programs of public education regarding: (i) the cause, effects of noise and general methods of abatement and control of noise, and (ii) the actions prohibited by this ordinance and the procedures for reporting violations; and (b) Encourage the participation of public interest groups in related public information efforts. 4.2.3 COORDINATION AND COOPERATION (a) Coordinate the noise control activities of all municipal departments; (b) Cooperate where practicable with all appropriate and Federal agencies; (c) Cooperate or combine where practicable with appropriate County and Municipal agencies, and; (d) Enter into contracts with the approval of the County commission for the provisions of technical and enforcement services. 4.3 DUTIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (NOISE CONTROL) OFFICE In order to effectively implement and enforce this ordinance, the EPO/NCO shall within a reasonable time after the effective date of the ordinance: 4.3.1 MEASUREMENT STANDARDS AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES (a) Develop measurement standards and procedures which will further the purposes of this ordinance. ~1 -6- (b) Develop administrative procedures which will provide for effective enforcement of this ordinance. 4.3.2 (Reserved) 4.3.3 DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY Delegate functions, where appropriate under this ordinance, to personnel within the EPO/NCO and to other departments, including the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, subject to the approval of Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida. 4.3.4 STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS Make recommendations for modifications or amendments to this ordinance to ensure consistency with all State and Federal laws and regulations. 4.3.5 PLANNING TO ACHIEVE LONG TERM NOISE GOALS Develop a long term plan for achieving quiet in Monroe County, and, with the approval of the County Commission, integrate this plan into the planning process of the County. 4.3.6 ADMINISTER GRANTS, FUNDS AND GIFTS Administer noise program grants, funds, and gifts from public and private sources, including the State and Federal governments. ARTICLE V. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS 5.1 DEPARTMENT ACTIONS All departments and agencies shall, to the fullest extent consistent with other law, carry out their programs in such a manner as to further the policy of this ordinance. 5.2 DEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION All departments and agencies shall cooperate with the EPO/ NCO to the fullest extent in enforcing this ordinance. 5.3 DEPARTMENTAL COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS All departments and agencies shall comply with Federal and State laws and regulations and the provisions and intent of this ordinance respecting the control and abatement of noise to the same extent that any person is subject to such laws and regulations. ~~ -7- 5.4 PROJECT APPROVAL All departments whose duty it is to review and approve new projects or changes to existing projects, that result, or may result, in the production of sound levels which would be in violation of this ordinance shall consult with the EPO/NCO prior to any such approval. ARTICLE VI. 6.1 NOISE DISTURBANCES PROHIBITED No person shall unnecessarily make, continue, or cause to be made or continued, any noise disturbance. 6.2 SPECIFIC PROHIBITIONS ~~e following acts, and the causing or permitting thereof, are decla:~ed to be in violation of this ordinance. 6.2.1 RADIOS, TELEVISION SETS, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND SIMILAR DEVICES Operating, playing or permitting the operation or playing of any radio, television, ,phonograph, drum, musical instrument, or simila:~ device which produces or reproduces sound: (a) Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial real property line or at any time to violate the provisions of ARTICLE VII except for activities for which a variance has been issued by the Director of Planning and Zoning. (b) In such a manner as to exceed the levels set forth for public space in ARTICLE VII, measured at a distance of at least 50 feet (15 meters) from such device operating on a public right-of- way or public space. 6.2.2 LOUDSPEAKERS Using or operating for any purpose any loudspeaker, loud- speaker system, or similar device between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day, such that the sound therefrom creates a noise dist:urbance across a residential rea 1 property line, or at anytime violates the provisions of ARTICLE VII. '89 -8- 6.2.3 ANIMALS OWning, possessing or harboring any animal or bird which frequently or for continued duration, howls, barks, meows, squawks, or makes other sounds which create a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial real property line or within a noise sensitive zone. This provision shall not apply to public zoos. 6.2.4 EXPLOSIVES, FIREARMS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES Using or firing explosives, firearms, or similar devices such that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a real property line, or within a noise sensitive zone, public space or public right-of-way, without first obtaining a variance issued by the Director of Planning & Zoning. Such a variance need not be obtained for licensed game-hunting activities on property where such activities are authorized. 6.2.5 STATIONARY NON-EMERGENCY SIGNALING DEVICES (a) Sounding or permitting the sounding of any electronically amplified signal from any stationary bell, chime, siren, whistle, or similar device, intended primarily for non-emer- gency purposes, from any place, for more than 10 seconds in any hourly pe:riod. Cb) Houses of religious worship shall be exempt from the operation of this provision. (c) Sound sources covered by this provision and not exempted under subsection (b) may be exempted by a variance issued by the Director of Planning & Zoning. 6.2.6 MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS (a) Operating or permitting the operation within a multifamily dwelling any source of sound, in such a manner as to exceed 55dBA from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 45 dBA from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. when measured within an adjacent intra-building dwelling. These noise limits shall not be exceeded more than ten percent of any measurement period, which shall not be less than 10 minutes. '10 -9- (b) The maximum permissible sound level, when measured in an adjacent intra-building dwelling between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day, shall be 50 dBA. 6.2.7 AIR-CONDITIONING OR AIR-HANDLING EQUIPMENT Operating or permitting the operation of any air-conditioning or air-handling equipment in such a manner as to exceed any of the following sound levels when measured as specified in the Code of Recommended Practices: Measurement Location dB(A) Any point on neighboring property line 60 Center of neighboring patio 55 Outside the neighboring living area window nearest the equipment location 55 6.2.8 PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT Operating or permitting to be operated, any loudspeaker or other source of sound in any place of public entertainment that exceeds the levels shown in Table I at any point normally occupied by a customer, without a conspicuous and legible sign stating "WARNING: SOUND LEVELS WITHIN MAY CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING IMPAIRMENT". TABLE I Duration per day, continuous hours Nois e level dBA 8 6 4 3 2 1':; 1 ':; ~ or less 90 92 95 97 100 102 105 110 115 ARTICLE VII 7.1 MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE SOUND LEVELS BY RECEIVING LAND USE (a) No person shall operate or cause to be operated any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level Which exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land use category in Table 2, more than ten percent of any measurement period, and "t -10- said measurement period shall not be less than ten minutes when measured at or beyond the property boundary of the receiving land use. TABLE II SOUND LEVELS BY RECEIVING LAND USE Space, or L10 Lmax SOUND LEVEL LIMIT Time dBA 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. 60 70 10 p.m. - 7 a.m. 55 60 Receiving Land Use Category Residential, Public Institutional Commercial or 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. 65 75 Business 10 p.m. - 7 a.m. 60 65 Manufacturing, At all Times 75 85 Indust:rial or Agricultural unax - maximum sound level recorded during any measurement period. L10 - Def. Level, 10th Percentile - The A weighted sound pressure level that is exceeded ten percent (10%) of the time in any measurement period as six (6) minutes in one hour, and is denoted L10. ARTICLE VIII. MOTOR VEHICLE MAXIMUM SOUND LEVELS 8.1 MOTOR VEHICLES OPERATING ON PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY Motor vehicles on a public right-of-way are regulated as set forth in .the Florida Motor Vehicle Noise Prevention and Control Act of 1974, Chapter 74-110, Laws of Florida. Use F.S. 8.2 RECREATIONAL MOTORIZED VEHICLES OPERATING OFF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY No person shall operate or cause to be operated any motorized vehicle off a public right-of-way in such a manner that the sound levels emitted therefrom violate the provisions of ARTICLE VII. This Section shall apply to all motorized vehicles, whether or not duly licensed and registered, including, but not limited to, commercial or non-commercial racing vehicles, motorcycles, go-carts, amphibious craft, campers and dune buggies, but not including motor- boats. '1'2- -11- ARTICLE IX. EXCEPTIONS AND VARIANCES 9.1 EMERGENCY EXCEPTION The provisions of this ordinance shall not apply to (a) the emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of an emergency, or (b) the emission of sound in the per- formance of emergency work. 9.2 SPECIAL VARIANCE (a) The (EPO/NCO) is authorized to grant variances for exception from any provision of this ordinance, subject to limitations as to area, noise levels, time limits, and other terms and conditions as the (EPO/NCO) determines are appropriate to protect public health, safety, and welfare from the noise emanating therefrom. This Section shall in no way affect the duty to obtain any permit or license required by law for such activities. (b) Any person seeking a variance pursuant to this section shall file an application with the (EPO/NCO). The application shall contain information which demonstrates that bringing the source of sound or activity for which the variance is sought into compliance with this ordinance would constitute an unreasonable hardship on the applicant, on the community, or on other persons. Notice of an application for a variance shall be mailed to adjacent property owners, if the noise production element is to be stationary. Any individual who claims to be adversely affected by allowance of the variance may file a statement with the ~PO/NCO) containing any information to support his claim. If at any time the (EPO/NCO) finds that a sufficient controversy exists regarding an application, a public hearing will be held. (c) In determining whether to grant or deny the application, the (EPO/NCO) shall balance the hardship on the applicant, the , community, and other persons of not granting the variance against the adverse impact on the health, safety, and welfare of persons affected, the adverse impact on property affected, and any other adverse ~'~ -12- impacts of granting the variance. Applicants for variances and persons contesting variances may be required to submit any information the (EPO/NCO) may reasonably require. In granting or denying an application, the (EPO/NCO) shall keep on public file a copy of the decision and the reasons for denying or granting the ordinance. (d) Variances shall be granted by notice to t he applicant containinl~ all necessary conditions, including a time limit on the permitted activity. The variance shall not become effective until all condi-tions are agreed to by the applicant. Noncompliance with any condi-tion of the variance shall terminate the variance and subject the person holding it to those provisions of this ordinance for which the variance was granted. (e) A variance will not exceed (365) days from the date on which it was granted. Application for extension of time limits specified in variances or for modification of other substantial conditions shall be treated like applications for initial variances under subsection (b). (f) The (EPO/NCO) will issue guidelines pursuant to Section 4.3.1 app:roved by the County Commission defining the procedures to be followed in applying for a variance and the criteria to be considered in deciding whether to grant a variance. 9.4 APPEALS Appeals of an adverse decision of the (EPO/NCO) shall be made to the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida. Review by the County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida. Review by the County Commission shall be de novo. ARTICLE X. ENFORCEMENT 10.1 PENALTIES It shall be unlawful for any person to violate the provisions of this O:rdinance and all violations of this Ordinance shall be and constitute second degree misdemeanors under the provisions of Florida Statute Chapter 125. Each day of violation shall consitute a separate and distinct offense subject to the penalty provided herein. qi: -13- Violators of this Ordinance shall be prosecuted in the county Court in the name of the State of Florida by the prosecutorial officer thereof and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50. or not more than $500. or by imprisonment in the County Jail for not more than 60 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Said prosecution may be instituted by way of citation or by way of information. 10.2 OTHER REMEDIES No provision of this ordinance shall be construed to impair any common law or statutory cause of action, or legal remedy therefrom, of any pe:rson for injury or damage arising from any violation of this Ordinance or from other law. 10.3 CITIZEN SUITS (a) After 30 days formal notice of complaint to the enforcing agency, any citizen of Monroe County may bring and maintain an action for injunctive relief to compel enforcement of this Ordinance. (b) provision (a) does not prevent any person from commencing a civil action on his own behalf against any person who is alleged to be in violation of any provision of this Ordinance. 10.4 SEVERABILITY If any provision of this Ordinance is held to be unconstitu- tional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions of the ordinance shall not be invalidated. 10.5 REPEAL OF PRIOR NOISE ORDINANCE Section 29 of Article VII of Monroe County Ordinance No.1 - 1973 as amended by Ordinance No. 6 - 1973, Ordinance No. 5 - 1974, Ordinance No. 20 - 1975 and Ordinance No. 2 - 1978 be and the same is hereby repealed. 10.6 EFFECTIVE DATE This Ordinance shall take effect upon receipt of the official acknowledgment from the Department of State acknowledging receipt of ~s -14- certified copy of said Ordinance and that said Ordinance has been filed in said office. 'b HEREBY. CrRTrFY t~1t tMs d!!'''~''lt~~t ~1I1 e~n.r.evl::t.;:e'\1, ~.'o.,I(},'1,,:1 . ..( . .:' . ~ .' ~ ~ (<I "~' ..rI cor.tfr"~;t nr.d tllat t:w ~;r~'~ :'::~'.~~'"'' \;.....'. ". approval r~ "'jj''j=i:'':::: my RICHMeD G. ?~ i'Mm Asat COUlltv AUurney '1\. NOTICE OF INTENTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF COUNTY ORDINANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN that on Tuesday, J"uly 11, 1978, at 1:00 P.M. at the Monroe County Courthouse Annex, Key West, Florida; at second hearing on Tuesday, July 18, 1978 at 1:00 P.M. at the Marathon Sub-Courthouse, Marathon, Florida; and at last hearing held Tuesday, July 25, 1978 at 1:00 P.M. at the Plantation Key Sheriff's Sub-Station, Plantation Key, Florida, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, intends to consider the adoption of the following County Ordinance: ORDINANCE NO. - 1978 AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA; ENTITLED "NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY OF MONROE"; ADOPTING CONTROLS ON THE EMISSION OF NOISE; ADOPTING STANDARDS AND ACCEPTABLE NOISE LEVELS; PROVIDING DEFI- NITIONS; MAKING IT UNLAWFUL TO EXCEED SAID STANDARDS; PROVIDING PROCEDURES FOR MEASURING SOUND LEVELS; ESTABLISHING AN ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY; REPEALING PRIOR NOISE ORDINANCE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. DATED at Key West, Florida, this 7th day of June, A.D. 1978. RALPH W. WHITE Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, and ex officio Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida. (SEAL) Publish: June 21, 1978 July 10, 1978 July 17, 1978 q~'R • •-'Iia« '-' P - of fate STATE OF FLORIDA o THE CAPITOL E" -'"z • s �- TALLAHASSEE 32304 ~°OD WEIRJS<. Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. - SECRETARY OF STATE August 15 , 1978 Honorable Ralph W. White Clerk of Circuit Court Monroe County Courthouse Key West , FL 33040 ' Attention : Virginia. Pinder , Deputy Clerk Dear Mr . White : Pursuant to the provisions of Section 125. 66 Florida Statutes , this will acknowledge: Receipt of your letter/s of August 9 , 1978 and certified copy/ies of Monroe County Ordinance/s No. /s 78-8 and 78-11 2. Receipt of an original/ls and certified copy/ies of County Ordinance/s No. /s 3. Receipt of County Ordinance/s relative to• ✓4. We have filed this/these Ordinance/s in this office August 15 1978. 5. We have numbered this/these Ordinance/s and was/were filed in this office 1978. 6. The original/duplicate copy/ies showing filing date is/are being returned for your records. Cordiall , y /4"----(---c--- (Mrs. ) Nan Kavanaugh ,/ y Chief, Bureau of Laws / P. S . 78-8 has been r,efiled and replaces 78-8 filed 7/31/78 NK/ mb 4 ►_ '6- ,