A. Terminology. All terminology used in this chapter, not defined in this chapter shall be in conformance with applicable publications of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or its successor body.

B. “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 dB(a) or dBA.

C. “Agricultural property” is designated on the official zoning map of the city.

D. “Ambient noise level” means the composite of noise from all sources near and far. In this context, the ambient noise level constitutes the normal or existing level of environmental noise at a given location.

E. “Commercial area” means those areas designated C-N, C-R, C-C, and C-T on the official zoning map of the city.

F. “Commercial limited” are those areas designated O and PF on the official zoning map of the city.

G. “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.

H. “Cumulative period” means an additive period of time composed of individual time segments which may be continuous or interrupted.

I. “Decibel” means a unit for measuring the amplitude of a sound, equal to twenty times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is twenty micropascals.

J. “Demolition” means any dismantling, intentional destruction or removal of structures, utilities, public or private right-of-way surfaces, or Similar property.

K. “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.

L. “Fixed noise source” means a stationary device which creates sound while fixed or motionless, including, but not limited to, residential, agricultural, industrial and commercial machinery and equipment, pumps, fans, compressors, air-conditioners, and refrigeration equipment.

M. “Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)” means the value specified by the manufacturer as the recommended maximum loaded weight of a single motor vehicle. In cases where trailers and tractors are separable, the gross combination weight rating, which is the value specified by the manufacturer as the recommended maximum loaded weight of the combination vehicle, shall be used;

N. “Impulsive sound” means sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay. Examples of sources of impulsive sound include explosions, drop forge impacts, and the discharge of firearms.

O. “Industrial area” is designated on the official zoning map of the city.

P. “Intrusive noise” means that noise which intrudes over and above the existing ambient noise at a given location. The relative intrusiveness of a sound depends upon its amplitude, duration, frequency and time of occurrence, and tonal or informational content as well as the prevailing ambient noise level.

Q. “Mobile noise source” means any noise source other than a fixed noise source.

R. “Motor vehicle” means and includes any and all self-propelled vehicles as defined in the California Vehicle Code, including all on-highway type motor vehicles subject to registration under the Code, and all off-highway type motor vehicles subject to identification under the code.

S. “Muffler or sound dissipative device” means a device consisting of a series of chambers or baffle plates, or other mechanical design, for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine, and effective in reducing noise.

T. “Noise control office(r) (NCO)” means the municipal agencies or departments, having lead responsibility for this chapter, or their employees.

U. “Noise disturbance” means any sound which (a) endangers or injures the safety or health of human beings or animals, or(b) annoys or disturbs reasonable persons of normal sensitivities, or (c) endangers or injures personal or real property, or (d) violates the factors set forth in Section 9.12.060 of this chapter. Compliance with the quantitative standards as listed in this chapter shall constitute elimination of a noise disturbance.

V. “Noise zone” includes any defined areas or regions of a generally consistent land use wherein the ambient noise levels are within a range of 5 dB.

W. “Person” means any individual, association, partnership or corporation, and includes any officer, employee, department, agency or instrumentality of a state or any political subdivision of a state.

X. “Powered model vehicle” means any self propelled, airborne, waterborne or landborne plane, vessel, or vehicle, which is not designed to carry persons, including, but not limited to, any model airplane, boat, car or rocket.

Y. “Public right-of-way” means any street, avenue, boulevard, highway, sidewalk or alley or similar place which is owned or controlled by a governmental entity.

Z. “Public space” means any real property or structures thereon which are owned or controlled by a governmental entity.

AA. “Pure tone” means any sound which can be judged as audible as a single pitch or a set of single pitches by the noise control officer, the purposes of this chapter, a pure tone shall exist if the one-third octave band sound pressure level in the band with the tone exceeds the arithmetic average of the sound pressure levels of the two contiguous one-third octave bands by 5 dB for center frequencies of 500 Hz and above and by 8 dB for center frequencies between 160 and 400 HZ and by 15 dB for center frequencies less than or equal to 125 Hz.

AB. “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, but not including intrabuilding real property divisions.

AC. “Residential area” means any area within the city including R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 as defined by the city zoning ordinance.

AD. “Sound amplifying equipment” means any device for the amplification of the human voice, music, or any other sound, excluding standard automobile radios when used and heard only by the occupants of the vehicle in which the radio is installed, and, as used in this chapter, warning devices on authorized emergency vehicles or horns or other warning devices on any vehicle used only for traffic safety purposes.

AK. “Sound level meter” means an instrument including a microphone, an amplifier, an output meter and frequency weighting networks for the measurement of sound levels, which meets or exceeds 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.

AF. “Sound truck” means any motor vehicle, or any other vehicle, regardless of motive power, whether in motion or stationary, having mounted thereon, or attached thereto, any sound amplifying equipment.

AG. “Vibration perception threshold” means the minimum ground or structure-borne vibrational motion necessary to cause a normal person to be aware of the vibration by such direct means as, but not limited to, sensation by touch or visual observation of moving objects. The perception threshold shall be presumed to be a motion velocity of 0.01 in/see over the range of 1 to 100 Hz. (Ord. 1159 §§ 2, 3, 1990; Ord. 1032 § 2 (part), 1985)