Does anyone know if there are any rules or regulations concerning what time in the AM excessive noise can be made, such as lawn and/or tree cutting and the use of blowers?
Century Village is a retirement community and people should not be disturbed at 7:30 in the morning!
If there are such rules, who enforces them?
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Your ADMIN. speaks.
I believe that this is a major issue in Century Village, so I am editing this entry directly. Please pardon me on this one:
The answer to your question is; YES there are rules and they are published and enforced by PBC code Enforcement; let's have a look:
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Table 5.E.4.B-14, Maximum Sound Levels
Maximum
Sound Level /
Receiving
Land Use Type / Sound Source / Time of Day /
USA /RSA
Residential Fixed mechanical equipment Any time 60 dB 60 dB
Residential Permanent Generator See Art. 5.B.1.A.18 75 dB 75 dB
7 AM to 8 PM 60 dB 55 dB
Residential All other sources 8 PM to 10 PM 55 dB 50 dB
10 PM to 7 AM 50 dB 50 dB
Commercial
Nonresidential
All sources Any time 70 dB 70 dB
Non-Residential Permanent Generator See Art. 5.B.1.A.18
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Obviously, the BLOG does not support the format of the Table, so it is best seen, along with the relevant ULDC (Uniform Land Development Code) at:
http://www.pbcgov.com/pzb/uldc/articles/Article5.pdf
See the Table on page 45.
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So, as to time, they have got us as the Code allows them to start at 7:00 am.
BUT where we may have recourse is, in the noise levels, I believe they clearly exceed all published limits.
So, who do you complain to:
1) Code Enforcement Director:
Terry Verner.........233-5500
Fax:.......................233-5517
Senior Field Investigator.....Bobby Boynton
233-5281
Reference of all Code Enforcement staff:
http://www.pbcgov.com/PZB/phonelist/External1.pdf
Starting at Page 8.
Make these references "Book Marks" folks, you may want them again.
Hope this is helpful.
Dave
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ADMIN. Follow up!
Larry Kall has noted the need to determine the Sound Levels of the offending equipment.
To put it briefly, measurement of Sound Levels are
are within the capability of the average Unit Owner, at a cost.
Radio Shack markets a meter for $50.00..
SEE: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103667
It is not necessary for you to do this however; the roaring of these garden machines with mufflers removed to save fuel is an outrage and well in excess of published code.
Simply file your complaint and let the chips fall where they may!
Dave
6 comments:
Seacrest begins 7:30am, Duffy tree cutting more like 8:30am. I feel for you I wore gun sound ear muff/hearing protectors this week as tree cutters visited all surrounding buildings and the bldg painter's compressor also ran.
I am used to tpk noise but defective a/c can get to me. The defective a/c usually belong to people who are away a lot and do not want to put $$ into their condo.
Threshold of hearing, 0 dB,
Rustling leaves, 20 dB
Quiet whisper (3 feet), 30 dB
Quiet home, 40 dB
Quiet street, 50 dB,
Normal conversation, 60 dB
Inside car, 70 dB,
Loud singing (3 feet), 75 dB
Automobile (25 feet), 80 dB
Motorcycle (30 feet), 88 dB
Foodblender (3 feet), 90 dB
Subway (inside), 94 dB
Diesel truck (30 feet), 100 dB
Power mower (3 feet), 107 dB
Chainsaw (3 feet), 117 dB
Amplified Rock nRoll (6'), 120 dB
Jet plane (100 feet), 130 dB
I agree with you regarding defective a/c. We have a very noisey one near us. I talked to the president of the building and we hope he does something to help rectify the situation
There are a lot of air conditioners that may seem loud to some and not so loud to others. Most of the problem comes as a result of condensing units located close to outside patios or windows. Usually these noise complaints stop when it gets hot out and people close their doors and windows.
As Dave has stated you first have to determine if the DB level is above codes. Not an easy task without the proper equipment.
Thanks again Dave. You are right that a complaint could be in order if the published db's for lawn maintenance equipment does not conform to residential properties. I think a phone call to Terry Verner might be in order to give CV's residents an extra 1/2hr.of sleep.
When I leave the house early in the morning, I almost run to the car in order to get past the guy with the "leaf blower". You think we have it bad hearing it in the condo, can you imagine the worker that is actually doing the blowing all day?
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