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The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. Definitions of technical terms used in this article, which are not defined in this section, shall be obtained from publications of acoustical terminology issued by ANSI or its successor body.
A-scale (dBA) means the sound level in decibels measured using the A-weight or network as specified in ANSI Standard 1.4-1971 for sound level meters. The level is designated dB(A) or dBA.
Ambient sound level means the noise associated with a given environment, exclusive of intruding noises from isolated identifiable sources.
ANSI means the American National Standards Institute or its successor body.
Construction means any and all activity necessary or incidental to the erection, assembly, alteration, installation, repair of equipment of buildings, roadways or utilities, including land clearing, grading, excavating and filling.
Decibel (dB) means a logarithmic and dimensionless unit of measure often used in describing the amplitude of sound, equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure, which is 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons per square meter).
Demolition means any dismantling, intentional destruction or removal of structures, utilities, public or private right-of-way surfaces or similar property.
Dwelling unit means a building or portion thereof regularly used for residential occupancy.
Dynamic braking device means a device used primarily on trucks and buses to convert the motor from an internal combustion engine to an air compressor for the purpose of vehicle braking without the use of wheel brakes.
Emergency work means work made necessary to restore property to a safe condition following a public calamity, work to restore public utilities or work required to protect persons or property from imminent exposure to danger.
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, dropforge impacts and the discharge of firearms.
Lot means any tract or parcel of land owned by or under the lawful control of one distinct ownership shall be considered a lot. The lot line or boundary is an imaginary line at ground level which separates a lot and its vertical extension owned by one person from that owned by another.
Mixed use means a dwelling unit or school located in commercial or an industrial zone.
Motor vehicle means any motor-operated vehicle licensed for use on the public highways, but not including a motorcycle.
Motorboat. See Watercraft.
Motorcycle means any motor vehicle having a saddle or seat for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground. The term shall include motorized bicycles, motor scooters, mopeds and the like.
Narrow band sound means a sound characterized by normal listeners as having a predominant pitch or series of pitches; sound described by such listeners as "whine," "hiss," "toot," or "wail"; or a sound whose frequencies occupy an octave band or less.
Noise control office means the town department having responsibility for the enforcement of this article.
Noise disturbance means any sound which exceeds the dBA level for such sound set out in this article.
Nonconforming use means a use of a structure, building or land which was established as permitted use and which has been lawfully continued pursuant to the zoning code of the town, but which is not a permitted use in the zone in which it is now located.
Offroad recreational vehicle means any motor vehicle, including road vehicles, but excepting watercraft, used off public roads for recreational purposes.
Person means any individual, association, partnership or corporation, including any officer, department, bureau, agency or instrumentality of the United States, a state or any political subdivision of a state, including the town.
Physical characteristics of sound means the steady, impulsive or narrow band property of a sound, the level of the sound and the extent to which it exceeds the background sound level.
Plainly audible means any sound for which the information content is unambiguously communicated to the listener, such as, but not limited to, understandable spoken speech, comprehension of whether a voice is raised or normal or comprehensive rhythms.
Port facilities means any and all public or private facilities used for the repair, loading or unloading of ships within the town, including, but not limited to, shipyards, repair yards and dry docks.
Powered model vehicle means self-propelled airborne, waterborne or landborne model plane, vessel or vehicle, which is not designed to carry a person, including, but not limited to, any model airplane, boat, car or rocket.
Public right-of-way means any street, avenue, highway, boulevard, alley, easement or public space which is owned by or controlled by a public government entity.
Public space means any real property, including any structure thereon, which is owned or controlled by a governmental entity.
Pure tone means any sound which can be distinctly heard as a single pitch or set of single pitches.
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.
Receiving land use means the use or occupancy of the property which received the transmission of sound.
Residential property means any property on which is located a building or structure used wholly or partially for living or sleeping purposes.
Sound means an oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that cause compression and rarefaction of that medium. The description of sound may include any characteristic of such sound, including duration, intensity and frequency.
Sound level means the weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound level meter and frequency weighting network, such as A, B or C, as specified in ANSI specifications for sound level meters (ANSI Standard 1.4-1971, or the latest approved revision thereof). If the frequency weighting employed is not indicated, the A-weighting shall apply.
Sound level meter means an instrument which includes a microphone, amplifier, RMS detector, integrator or time average, output or play meter, and weighting networks used to measure sound pressure levels, which complies with ANSI Standard 1.4-1971.
Sound pressure means the instantaneous difference between the actual pressure and the average or barometric pressure at a give point in space, as produced by sound energy.
Sound pressure level means 20 times the logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of the RMS sound pressure to the reference pressure to the reference pressure of 20 micronewtons per square meter (20 × 10-6N/m'). The sound pressure level is denoted Lp or SPL and is expressed in decibels.
Steady sound means a sound whose level remains essentially constant (=/-2d) during the period of the sound level meter.
Town means the Town of Narragansett, Rhode Island, or the area within the territorial limits of the town over which the town has the jurisdiction or control by virtue of ownership or any constitutional or Charter provisions, or any law.
Unnecessary, excessive or offensive noise means any sound or noise conflicting with criteria, standards or levels set forth in this article for permissible noises.
Used and occupied include the words "intended, designed or arranged to be" used or occupied.
Watercraft means any contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation or recreation on water.
Zoning districts means those districts established in the Zoning Ordinance and indicated on the official zoning map.
(Code 1986, § 9-13)
Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.