Ogunquit
Zoning
Ordinance

Adopted April 4, 1998
Amended April 5, 1999

Article 8 General Standards
Section 8.9 Noise Abatement

A. Excessive noise at unreasonable hours shall be required to be muffled so as not to be objectionable due to intermittence, beat frequency, shrillness or volume.

B. The maximum permissible sound pressure level of any continuous, regular or frequent source of sound produced by any activity regulated by this Ordinance shall be established by the time period and type of land use district listed below. Sound pressure levels shall be measured at all major lot lines, at a height of at least four feet above the ground surface.

Sound Pressure Level Limits Measured in Decibels
7 a.m.-10 p.m. 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
dB(A) dB(C) dB(A) dB(C)
Business Districts 60 72 50 62
Other Districts 55 67 45 67
  1. The levels specified may be exceeded by 10 decibels for a single period, no longer than 15 minutes, in any one day.
  2. Both dB(A) and dB(C) scales shall be used, and a violation of either standard shall be deemed to constitute a violation of this Ordinance.

C. Noise shall be measured with a sound level meter meeting the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI S1.401961) "American Standard Specification for General Purpose Sound Level Meters." The instrument shall be set to the appropriate weight response scales and the meter to the slow response. Measurements shall be conducted in accordance with ANSI S1.2-1962 "American Standard Method for the Physical Measurement of Sound."

D. No person shall engage in, cause, or permit to be engaged in very loud construction activities on a site abutting any residential use between the hours of 10 p.m. one day and 7 a.m. of the following day. Construction activities shall be subject to the maximum permissible sound level specified for business districts for the periods within which construction to be completed pursuant to any applicable building permit. The following uses and activities shall be exempt from the sound pressure level regulations:

  1. Noises created by construction and maintenance activities between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
  2. The noises of safety signals, warning devices and emergency pressure relief valves and any other emergency activity.
  3. Traffic noise on existing public roads, railways or airports.

E. These noise regulations are enforceable by law and enforcement officers and the Code Enforcement Officer.

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