>TID
NOISE SOURCE REGULATION
IN STATE AND LOCAL
NOISE ORDINANCES
-------
NTID73.1
NOISE SOURCE REGULATION
IN STATE AND LOCAL NOISE ORDINANCES
March 1, 1973
This Document was Prepared
by
The Office of Noise Abatement and Control
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402
Price 38 cents domestic postpaid or 25 cents GPO Bookstore
-------
INTRODUCTION
As more noise control regulations are enacted at the state and local levels,
it has become more difficult to get an accurate overview of those regulations.
What is needed is a planning and reference guide for public administrators and
other officials engaged in developing and implementing noise control programs.
To aid in satisfying that need, the Office of Noise Abatement and Control of the
US Environmental Protection Agency has prepared this document.
Presented herein is a summary of noise source regulations encompassed
in current state laws and local ordinances. Data has been extracted from only
those laws and ordinances stipulating specific decibel levels. For information
on the measurement procedures used, refer to the specific law or ordinance.
The state ordinances summarized in this report deal primarily with ground
transportation systems. The local ordinances, on the other hand, deal with sev-
eral different aspects of the noise problem, such as restricting noise from
transportation systems and from construction equipment and limiting the noise
transmitted across property lines. Because of the many variations among local
regulations, no attempt has been made to list the specific noise level require-
ments contained in local zoning laws and building codes. Because new ordinances
will continually be enacted, this publication will be updated at appropriate inter-
vals.
-------
NOISE REGULATION AT THE STATE LEVEL
-------
TRANSPORTATION NOISE
(dBA values at 50 feet unless noted otherwisi
~~ ~- — -__^^ State
Description '
Operation of vehicles at
posted speeds:
a. Motorcycle
b. Vehicle with a GVW of 6000
Ib or more (or combination)
c. Any other motor vehicle and
any combination of motor
vehicles towed by such ve-
hicle
Sale of new vehicles
a. Motorcycle
b. Vehicle with a GVW of 6000
Ib or more
c. Any other motor vehicle
Snowmobile
Operation
Sale of new snowmobiles
Noise level limits for the
operation of motor vehicles
Noise limits for level, low-
speed roads (subject to
special measuring condi-
tions)
a. Any motor vehicle with a
GVW at 6000 Ib or more
(or combination)
b. Any motorcycle
c. Any other motor vehicle
and any combination of
vehicles towed by such
other vehicle
Establish Noise Impact
Boundary around airports.
New airports
Existing large airports
Existing small airports
California
Effective
Date
Before 1/1/73
After 1/1/73
Before 1970
35 MPH
or less
82
88
86
76
After '69, Before '73
After '72, Before '75
After '74, Before '78
After '77, Before '88
After '87
After '67, Before '73
After '72, Before '75
After '74, Before '78
After '77, Before '88
After '87
After '67, Before '73
After '72, Before '75
After '74, Before '78
After '77, Before '88
After '87
Over
35 MPH
86
90
90
82
92
88
86
80
75
70
88
86
83
80
70
86
84
80
75
70
Any vehicle manufactured on
or after 1/1/72 before 1/1/73
after 1/1/73 before 1/1/75
after 1/1/75
92
88
86
CNEL 65 dB
Before 1/1/76
After 1/1/76
After 1/1/81
After 1/1/81
Before 1/1/76
After 1/1/81
80 dB
75 dB
70 dB
65 dB
70 dB
65 dB
*Colorado
Effective 35 MPH Over
Date or less 35 MPH
82 86
Before 1/1/73 88 90
After 1/1/73 86 90
82 86
(Includes motor-driven cycles in its
provisions on motorcycles)
Alter 1/1/73 88
After 1/1/71 | „,,
Before 1/1/73 j 88
After 1/1/73 86
After 1/1/68 1 BR
Before 1/1/73 j
After 1/1/73 84
35 MPH or less 82
Over 35 MPH 86
After 1/1/71 86
After 1/1/73 84
Minnesota
Effective 15 MPH Over
Date r less 35 MPH
82 86
Before 1/1/73 88 90
After 1/1/73 86 90
76 82
Before 1/1/72 92
After 1/1/72
Before 1/1/73
After 1/1/73 86
After 1/1/68
Before 1/1/73
After 1/1/73 86
After 1/1/72
Before 1/1/73
After 1/1/73 84
Connecticut
Effective 35 MPH Over
Date or less 35 MPH
Before 1/1/75 82 86
After 1/1/75 80 84
Before 1/1/75 86 90
After 1/1/75 84 88
76 82
Before 1/1/75 j 82
After 1/1/75 j 73
Before 1/1/75 80
On or after 1/1/75 73
82
77
74
*Colorado and Illinois are the only states that have noise emission standards for stationary noise sources.
-------
TRANSPORTATION NOISE
(dBA values at 50 feet unless otherwise noted)
^^~~~—~~-~_^^^ State
Description ^^~~~~~~-~~__^^
Operation of vehicles at
posted speeds-
a. Motorcycle
b. Vehicle with a GVW of 6000
Ib or more (or combination)
c. Any other motor vehicle and
any combination of motor
vehicles towed by such
vehicle
Noise limits for level, low-
speed roads
a. Motorcycle
b. Vehicle with a GVW of 6000
Ib or more
c. Any motor vehicle and any
combination of motor ve-
hicles towed by such vehicles
Snowmobile
Operation
Sale of new snowmobiles
Sale of new vehicles
a. Motorcycle
b. Vehicle with a GVW of 7000
Ib or more
c. Any other motor vehicle
Noise level limits for the
operation of motor vehicles
Connecticut
Effec.
Date
Before 1/1/75
After 1/1/75
Before 1/1/75
After 1/1/75
35 MPH
or less
82
80
86
84
76
Over
35 MPH
86
84
90
88
82
77
82
74
Before 1/1/75 83
After 1/1/75 73
Before 1/1/75 80
After 1/1/75 73
Indiana
Effec.
Date
Beforel/1/73
After 1/1/73
35 MPH
or less
82
88
86
76
Over
35 MPH
86
90
90
82
Pennsylvania
Effec.
Date
9/1/71
9/1/71
9/1/71
35 MPH
or lees
90
90
(7000 Ib
82
Over
35 MPH
92
92
r more)
86
After 1/1/73 90
After 1/1/73 90
After 1/1/73 84
Idaho
92 at
20ft.
N.y.
After 6/1/72 82
After 6/1/74 73
88
Montana
After 6/30/72
85 at 15 ft
Mass
73
After 1/1/71
73
-------
NOISE REGULATION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
-------
TRANSPORTATION NOISE
(dBA values at 50 teet unless noted otherwise)
~~~ -___^^ City
Description — — .^_^_^
Operation of vehicles at
posted speeds
a. Motorcycle
b. Heavy vehicle
c. Any other motor vehicle and
any of motor vehicles towed
by such vehicle
Sale of new vehicles
a Motorcycle
b. Heavy vehicle
c. Passenger car, motor-
driven cycle and any
other motor vehicle
Snowmobile
Any other vehicle Including
dUTie buggy, all-terrain
vehicle, go-cart, mini-bike
Motor-driven vehicles not
subject to registration for
road use
Powered boats
Chicago
Effective
Date
Before 1/1/78
Alter 1/1/78
Before 1/1/73
After 1/1/73
After 1/1/70
After 1/1/78
Before 1/1/70
After 1/1/70
After 1/1/73
After 1/1/75
After 1/1/80
After 1/1/73
After 1/1/75
After 1/1/80
After 1/1/73
After lA/75
After 1/1/80
After 1/1/71
After 6/1/72
After 6/1/74
After 1/1/71
After 1/1/73
After 1/1/75
Before 1/1/73
After 1/1/73
Before 1/1/75
After 1/1/75
35 MPH
or less
82
78
88
86
76
70
Over
35 MPH
86
82
90
90
82
79
88
86
84
75
86
85
75
84
80
75
86
82
73
86
82
73
86
82
85
76
Boston
After 1/1/70 88
After 1/1/73 86
After 1/1/75 84
After 1/1/80 75
After 1/1/70 88
After 1/1/73 86
After 1/1/75 84
After I/I/SO 75
Before 1/1/73 86
After 1/1/73 84
After 1/1/75 80
After 1/1/80 75
N.Y. City*
35 MPH Over
or less 35 MPH
82 J 86
78 82
86 90
76 » 82
70 79
Refuse compacting
vehicle manufac-
tured or purchased
after 12/31/74-
70 §10 feet
Minneapolis
Effective 35 MPH Over
or less or less 35 MPH
82 86
Before 1/1/75 88 90
After 1/1/75 86 90
82 86
Before 1/1/72 90
After 1/1/72 „„.
Before 1/1/73 j
After 1/1/73 86
After 1/1/72 88
After 1/1/75 86
After 1/1/72 86
After 1/1/75 84
Proposed Washington, D, C
Effective 35
Date or
Before 1/1/73
After 1/1/73 £
After 1/1/71
After 1/1/78
MPH Over
less 35 MPH
8 90
6 90
6 82
0 79
After 1/1/71 88
After 1/1/73 8$
After 1/1/75 84
After 1/1/80 75
After 1/1/71 88
After 1/1/73 86
After 1/1/75 84
After 1/1 /SO 75
Before 1/1/73 86
After 1/1 /73 84
After 1/1/75 80
After 1/1/80 75
*Provides for allowable levels at 25 feet as well as 50 feet.
t Before 1/1/78
After 1/1/78
-------
TRANSPORTATION NOISE (Cont.)
Oahu
Light Vehicles* - Before 1/1/77 (After 1/1/77)
Posted Speed Limit
25 mph or less
30
35
40
45
50
55
60 mph or more
Measurement Distance
20ft
77 (69)
79 (71)
81 (73)
83 (75)
85 (77)
87 (79)
89 (81)
91 (83)
25ft
75 (67)
77 (69)
79 (71)
81 (73)
83 (75)
85 (77)
87 (79)
89 (81)
50 ft
69 (61)
71 (63)
73 (65)
75 (67)
77 (69)
79 (71)
81 (73)
83 (75)
Heavy Vehicles* - 1/1/72 to 12/31/73, After 1/1/74, After 1/1/77
Posted Speed Limit JI1M4Pe1P.IO<:
F When Applica
s Measurement Distance
ble 20 ft 25 ft 50 ft
35 mph or less Day-Time 94,92,83 92,90,81 86,84,75
Evening 92,92,75 90,90,73 84,84,67
Night 81,81,73 79,79,71 73,73,65
Holiday
Sunday
More than 35 mph All 94,92,83 92,90,81 86,84,75
Truck Routes All 96,96,— 94,94,— 88,88,—
General vehicle noise laws:
Ann Arbor, Mich. — 90
Pocatello, Idaho „„
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Cincinnati, Ohio — 95
Omaha, Nebraska — 8
- 8
Walla Walla, Washingt
Seattle, Washington
Pullman, Washington -
@ 25 ft with vehicle traveling 20 mph
@ 20ft
@ 20ft
) @ 25 ft (except heavy vehicles)
3 @ 25 ft (heavy vehicles)
on 95 @ 20 ft (Neutral - full throttle)
- At 25 ft at speed of 35 mph:
Vehicle (6000 Ib or more) 92
Motorcycle (engine displace-
ment of 125 cc's
or larger) 88
Any motor vehicle or com-
bination 82
Anchorage, Alaska — 88 @ 50 ft, speed < 25 mph
Boulder, Colorado — all vehicles limited to 88 from 7 AM to
6 PM, Mon-Sat
Peoria, Illinois — Ma>
dmum Levels Distance (ft)
85 50
86 45
87 40
88 35
89.5 30
91 25
93 20
95.5 15
*Vehieles include automobiles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, motorized bikes,
motorized bicycles, scooters, go-carts, farm machinery, industrial machin-
ery, highway graders, trailers, etc.
-------
MACHINE NOISE
(dBA levels at 50 feet unless noted otherwise)
^^^^^^ City
Description -^^^^
Sale or lease of new
construction and
industrial equipment
Air compressors
(operate or permit
to be operated) at
1 meter
Air compressors
(sell, offer for sale,
permit to be oper-
ated) at 1 meter
Agricultural tractors
and equipment
Powered commercial
equipment intended
for infrequent use in
residential area
(chain saws, pavement
breakers, log chip-
pers, etc.)
Powered equipment
intended for repeti-
tive use in residen-
tial area (lawn
mower, garden
tools, etc.)
Motor vehicle claxons
at 25 ft
1974 models and
thereafter
Emergency signal
devices at 50 ft
Paving breaker at
1 meter
Chicago
After 1/1/72 94
After 1/1/73 88
After 1/1/75 86
After 1/1/80 80
After 1/1/72 88
After 1/1/75 86
After 1/1/80 80
After 1/1/72 88
After 1/1/73 84
After 1/1/80 80
After 1/1/72 74
After 1/1/75 70
After 1/1/78 65
Boston
After 1/1/72 94
After 1/1/73 88
After 1/1/80 80
After 1/1/72 88
After 1/1/75 86
After 1/1/80 80
After 1/1/72 88
After 1/1/73 84
After 1/1/80 80
After 1/1/72 74
After 1/1/75 70
After 1/1/78 65
N.Y. City
12/31/72 90
6/30/74 80
12/31/72 85
6/ 30/74 75
12/31/75 70
75
90
12/31/73 94
12/31/75 90
-------
OTHER OBJECTIVE STANDARDS
City
Description
Aspen, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Specifies a limit of 80 dB(A) @ 25 ft from noise
source or at least 25 ft from the property line
on which the noise source is located.
Medina, Washington
Indianapolis, Indiana
Salt Lake City, Utah
Any level greater than 95 dB(A) @ 20 feet from
noise source.
Speakers and sound amplifying equipment < 115
dB @ 6 inches from speaker.
Drive-in restaurants:
Octave dB (re 0. 002
Band dynes/cm^)
600-1200
1200-2400
2400-4800
50
44
37
Palo Alto, California
Includes 83 dBA limit from individual construc-
tion equipment at 25 ft; 86 dBA limit at any
point outside of the property plane of a construc-
tion project.
San Francisco, California
Includes limits on waste disposal services,
garbage collection, etc., 80 dBA at 50 ft on
and after 6 months after effective date re-
duced to 75 dBA on and after 66 months after
effective date. Includes limits on motor ve-
hicles for off-highway use.
Park Ridge, Illinois
Establishes aircraft runway extensions defined
as areas 1200 feet wide and five miles long
which adjoin existing runways at O'Hare Inter-
national Airport, the center line of the runway
continuing as the center line of the extension.
Noise above 95 dBC measured within this area
is prohibited.
Santa Barbara, California
Restricts all nonflight activities of aircraft to
the community noise equivalent level (CNEL)
of 80 dBA.
Portland, Oregon
Helistops are prohibited in residential and
commercial zones if the noise from these
facilities at landing or takeoff exceeds 90 dB
at the boundary of adjacent property in resi-
dential areas, or at the nearest occupied
premises in commercial zones.
-------
COMMUNITIES APPLYING DECIBEL LIMITS TO ZONING LAWS,
BUILDING CODES, AND PROPERTY LINES
Juneau, Alaska
Ketchikan, Alaska
Tucson, Arizona
Anaheim, California
Beverly Hills, California
Fountain Valley, California
Hemet, California
Inglewood, California
Los Angeles, California
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco, California
Torrance, California
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
New Haven, Connecticut
District of Columbia
Jacksonville, Florida
Miami, Florida
College Park, Georgia
Chicago, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baltimore, Maryland
Boston, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Rochester, Minnesota
Las Vegas, Nevada
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Binghamton, New York
Columbus, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Grants Pass, Oregon
Silverton, Oregon
Warwick, Rhode Island
Amarillo, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Bellevue, Washington
Kirkland, Washington
* U S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1973—514-154/292
------- |