City of Pittsburgh Noise Ordinance

In response to the Civic Association's August 1999 meeting, a copy of the city noise ordinance was sent to the Civic Association by Councilman Bob O'Connor's office. The ordinance is attached below for everyone to review.

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AN ORDINANCE

Amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title Six, Conduct, Article I, Regulated Rights and
Actions, Chapter 601, Public Order, Section 601.04, Unnecessary Noise and Sound Amplification
Devices, by changing the threshold and penalties for violation.

The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.

The Pittsburgh Code, Title Six, Conduct, Article I, Regulated Rights & Actions, Chapter 601,Public Order, Section 601.04 is hereby amended as follows:

601.04 UNNECESSARY NOISE AND SOUND AMPLIFYING DEVICES.

(a) No person shall unnecessarily and repeatedly sound the horn of any vehicle or use any loud signaling device thereon except an emergency vehicle or a vehicle on emergency business.

(b)No person shall operate or cause to be operated, any audio amplification or reproduction device, including but not limited to an oversized hand carried radio, cassette, compact disc player, or one that is installed in or audio powered by a vehicle, on a city street or sidewalk, in a city park, on a public conveyance. or in any other public property which generates an A-weighted sound level in excess of [85] 68 dB(a) in a residential area measured at, or adjusted to, a distance of 50 feet from the source . If an A- weighted sound device is not present, a violation has occurred if the disturbance is audible to an officer standing in excess of 75 feet away from the source of the disturbance. This subsection shall not apply to audio amplification devices used for open air musical concerts or any other private or public events.

(c) No person shall operate, or cause to be operated any audio amplification system on public or private property, which generates an A- weighted sound level in excess of 68 dB(a) in a residential area measured at, or adjusted to, a distance of 75 feet beyond the boundary of the property in which the audio amplification or reproduction system is located.

(d)Sound levels under subsections (b) and (c) hereof shall be measured with a sound level measuring device, either Type I or Type Il as defined by American National Standards institute Specifications. Section 1.4-1971.

(e)A person operating an audio amplification or reproduction device shall be exempt from this section provided that:

(1) The device is being operated to request assistance or warn of a hazardous situation; or

(2)The device is an authorized emergency vehicle or a vehicle operated by gas, electric, communications or water utility; or

(3) The device is being used in connection with a parade, political activity, amusement activity or communit.v event that is being conducted under any permit issued by the city and is otherwise in compliance with the applicable sections of the Pittsburgh Code provided that the recommended sound level in the applicable subsection is not exceeded between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 am.

(f)Violation of subsection (b) shall result in the mandatory fine of $150 for a first time violation and a mandatory $300 fine and booting of the vehicle for the second offense.

Booting of the vehicle shall occur if the fine from the first violation is outstanding. The owner of the vehicle shall be responsible for all costs associated with the booting. Violation of subsection (c) [Noise and sound as prohibited herein] is a public nuisance, disturbing the peace and injurious to the public interest, and may be abated forthwith.

(Ord. 17-1991, effective 5-24-91)

SECTION 2.

Prior to the effective date of this legislation, the Director of Public Safety shall develop a comprehensive noise education program for the purpose of informing, educating and soliciting voluntary cooperation in noise
reduction.

SECTION 3.

The effective date of this legislation shall be October 1, 1998

SECTION 4.

That any Ordinance or part of Ordinance conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance, be and the same is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Ordinance.

Ordained and enacted into a law in Council, this 3rd day of
AUGUST A.D. 1998

Bob O'Connor, President of Council

ATTEST: John R. Mascio, Deputy City Clerk of Council
MAYOR'S OFFICE August 12,1998

APPROVED: Tom Murphy, Mayor
ATTEST: M. Linda Gangewer, Mayor's Secretary

Recorded in Ordinance Book, Vol.78 Page 244 26th day of August, 1998

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 1998

I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. 22, Series 1998, as the same appears of record in the office of the City Clerk

Linda M. Johnson-Wasler
City Clerk

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the above ordinance is out of date ... the most current ordinance can be found here --> http://colinwetherbee.com/data/pittsburghcode-ch601-20060313.pdf

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