Town of Chelmsford, MA Chapter 100 Noise

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Chelmsford 10-15-2001 by Art. 15. (This article also repealed former Ch. 100, Noise, which consisted of Art. I, Sound-Amplifying Equipment, adopted 1973 ATM by Art. 56, as amended.) Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Alarm systems — See Ch. 5.

Peace and good order — See Ch. 113.

School buildings and grounds — See Ch. 129.

§ 100-1 Causing and permitting prohibited.

No person owning, leasing, or controlling a source of sound shall willfully, negligently, or through failure to provide necessary equipment, service or maintenance or to take necessary precautions cause, suffer, allow, or permit unnecessary emissions from said source of sound that may cause noise.

§ 100-2 Applicability.

This chapter shall pertain to, but shall not be limited to outdoor sound-amplifying equipment, prolonged unattended sounding of burglar alarms, motor vehicle trucks idling for more than five minutes, construction and demolition equipment which characteristically emit sound but may be fitted and accommodated with equipment such as enclosures to suppress sound or may be operated in a manner so as to suppress sound, suppressible and preventable industrial and commercial sources of sound, and other man-made sounds that cause noise.

§ 100-3 Special restrictions for outdoor sound-amplifying equipment.

A. Sound-amplifying equipment shall not be operated within 100 yards of hospitals, nursing homes, public housing for the elderly, schools, and churches without prior approval from the Police Chief or his or her designee.

B. The volume of the sound shall be controlled so that it will not be audible for a distance in excess of 300 feet from the sound-amplifying equipment and so that said volume is not unreasonably loud, raucous, jarring, disturbing, or a nuisance to persons.

§ 100-4 Exceptions.

This chapter shall not apply to sounds emitted during and associated with:

A. Parades, public gatherings, or sporting events, for which permits have been issued;

B. Emergency police, fire, and ambulance vehicles;

C. Police, fire, DPW, and civil and national defense activities;

D. Domestic equipment, such as lawn mowers and power saws, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. weekdays and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Sundays;

E. Places of amusement, parks and recreation areas;

F. Idling of school buses;

G. Emergency public utility repair;

H. Snow removal equipment;

§ 100-5 Enforcement authority.

[Art. 15 (part), ATM 1987: By-Laws Art. XIII (part).]

The Police Department, Fire Department, Board of Health officials, Building Commissioner or Inspector are hereby authorized to enforce this chapter.

§ 100-6 Penalties for offenses.

The penalty for any violations of this chapter shall be $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense and $200 for subsequent offenses.

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