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"Good Neighbors Keep Their Noise to Themselves"

Newport, OR Noise Ordinance
(NPC posted this March 2004)

Newport Ordinances

ORDINANCE NO. 1251

The city of Newport ordains as follows:

Section 1. No persons shall cause, allow, permit or suffer to be made any noise that unreasonably causes inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to others.

Section 2. The following acts, although not an exclusive enumeration, are declared to be in violation of this ordinance:

(a) Horns and signaling devices. The use at any time on any automobile, bicycle, motorcycle, bus, boat, vessel or other vehicle of any horn or signaling device otherwise than as a reasonable warning signal.

(b) Radios, phonographs, musical instruments and similar devices. The operation of any radio, musical instrument, phonograph, television, tape recorder or similar device which produces or reproduces sound in such a manner as to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to others. The operation of any such machine or device in such a manner as to be plainly audible to any person in an adjacent dwelling unit or at a distance of at least 50 feet from the location of said machine or device shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.

(c) Public address systems. The operation of any public address system upon public streets, public property or private property in such a manner as to produce or reproduce unreasonably loud or raucous noise that causes inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to another.

(d) Yelling, shouting and similar conduct. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, singing or similar conduct in such a manner as to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to another.

(e) Animals and pets. The keeping of any animal which by frequent or long continued noise causes inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to another.

(f) Exhaust systems. The operation of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine, vessel, boat or motor vehicle so as to cause any greater noise or sound than reasonably necessary for its proper operation.

(g) Schools, libraries and similar institutions. The making of any unreasonable noise that causes inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to any person within any educational institution, church, court, library or similar institution.

(h) Pile drivers and similar machinery. The operation between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. of any pile drivers, pneumatic hammer, derrick, mechanical shovel, hoist, or similar machinery so as to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to another.

(i) Blowers and similar devices. The operation of any blower, power fan, compressor, internal combustion engine, or electric motor so as to create unreasonable noise which causes inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to another.

(j) Refrigerated trucks and similar vehicles. The parking of any vehicle or trailer between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. while any motor, engine or auxiliary motor engine, including but not limited to those for refrigeration or electrical generation purposes, is in operation so as to create unreasonable noise which causes inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to another.

Section 3. Construction Permits Required. The construction, erection, excavation, demolition, alteration or repair of any building, structure, street, sidewalk, driveway, parking area, sewer, utilities or other improvements shall be prohibited as the same shall cause any sound or noise which is audible to any person upon a public way or street or upon private property other than that upon which the activity shall take place, except in cases where the same is required in the interest of the public health, safety, convenience or welfare. In case such activities shall be required between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., by reason of such public health, safety, convenience or welfare, a permit shall be required in advance from the city building official or city manager, except in case of emergency, in which case such permit may be issued by the police department or the city of Newport. No governmental body shall be required to obtain such a permit in case of emergency.

Section 4. Penalties. Any person who violates any provision of this ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction of any such violation shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500, or by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Section 5. Severability. The provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed severable, and if any part, portion or provisions hereof shall be found to be invalid or unenforcable, all the remaining portions, terms and provisions of this ordinance shall, nonetheless, remain in full force and effect.

Passed by the council and approved by the mayor April 6, 1981

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