§ 54-82. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Ordinance, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Agricultural Zone means any geographic area designated for agricultural activities by the zoning authority having jurisdiction over such area.

Ambient Noise means the all encompassing noise associated with a given environment, being usually a composite of sound from many sources near and far.

Ambient Sound Level means the A-weighted or C-weighted Sound Level of the Ambient Noise at a given location.

Amplified Sound means use of a public address system, loudspeaker, amplifier or any other device which electronically or mechanically augments the volume of sound. For purposes of this Ordinance, Amplified Sound does not include Background Music.

ANSI means the American National Standards Institute.

A-Weighted Sound Level dB(A) means the sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a Sound Level Meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated dB(A).

Background Music means any music or other Sound played in a public or private space whose main function is to create an atmosphere suitable to a specific occasion, rather than to be listened to. Background Music shall normally generate Sound Levels no higher than 45 dB(A) at any location on the property where it is being played.

Commercial Zone means any geographic area designated for commercial or professional activities by the zoning authority having jurisdiction over such area.

Community Event means any cultural, sporting, historical or traditional observance, holidays and ceremonies, parades and concerts open to the public, including events operated for profit or for which admission is charged.

Construction means any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration, or similar action, but excluding demolition, for or on any public or private right-of-way, structures, utilities or similar property.

Continuous Noise means a noise whose sound pressure level exceeds the Ambient Sound Level and remains essentially constant in level during the period of observation.

County Code Enforcement Department means the designated authority charged with administration of this Ordinance and enforcement in addition to enforcement by the County Sheriff's Office.

C-weighted Sound Level, dB(C) means the sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a Sound Level Meter using the C-weighting network. The level so read is designated dB(C).

Decibel (dB) means a logarithmic unit of measurement that expresses the magnitude of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. Since it expresses a ratio of two quantities with the same unit, it is a dimensionless unit. In the case of this Noise Ordinance, a Decibel means a unit for measuring the amplitude of sound, equal to 20 times the base ten logarithm of the ratio of the measured sound pressure to the reference pressure, which is 20 microPascals. Generally, higher decibel levels represent louder sounds.

Emergency means an occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage or loss, which demands immediate action.

Emergency Work means any work performed for the purpose of preventing or alleviating the physical trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an Emergency.

Equipment includes, but is not limited to, air conditioning unit, heating unit, pump, fan, generator, utility facility, and any other substantially similar item, operating in accordance with its manufacturer's specifications, large or small, commercial or non-commercial, whether or not a fixture.

Equivalent A-weighted or C-weighted Sound Level, Leq,A or Leq,C means the constant Sound Level that in a given situation and time period, coveys the same sound energy as the actual time-varying A-weighted or C-weighted sound. For the purposes of this Ordinance, a minimum measurement time period of one minute shall be used, unless otherwise specified.

Hertz (Hz) is the unit of measure of the frequency of sound. One Hertz equals one cycle per second. The audible frequency range for normal human hearing is between 20 Hertz and 20,000 Hertz. The higher the frequency (measured in Hertz), the higher the pitch of the sound.

Impulsive Sound means a sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay. Examples of sources of impulsive sound include explosions, drop forge impacts, and the discharge of firearms.

Industrial Zone means any geographic area designated for industrial or manufacturing activities by the zoning authority having jurisdiction over such area.

Intermittent Noise means a noise whose sound pressure level exceeds the Ambient Level at either regular or irregular intervals.

Mixed-Use Project means a development or structure characterized by the use or occupancy of any geographic area, determined by reference to tract boundary, designated for both residential and nonresidential purposes by the zoning authority having jurisdiction over such area.

Motor Vehicle means any self-propelled vehicle not operated upon rails or guideway, but not including any bicycle, motorized scooter, electric personal assistance mobility device, or moped. Many vehicles are not motor vehicles.

Multifamily Dwelling means any building or structure containing two or more residences, each occupied in whole or in part as the temporary or permanent residence of one or more natural persons.

Noise means any sound which annoys or disturbs, or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans.

Noise Level means the sound pressure level as measured in dB(A) unless otherwise specified.

Person means any individual natural person, public or private corporation, firm, association, joint venture, partnership, or any other entity whatsoever or any combination of such, jointly and severally. Person shall include any owner, agent, or employee of a business establishment or other entity.

Property Boundary means the Real Property Line of any real property.

Pure Tone means any Sound consisting of a single frequency. For the purposes of measurement, a Pure Tone shall exist if the one-third octave band sound pressure level in the band with the tone exceeds the arithmetic average of the sound pressure levels of the two contiguous one-third octave bands by five dB for center frequencies of 500 Hz and above; by eight dB for center frequencies between 160 and 400 Hz; and by fifteen dB for center frequencies less than or equal to 125 Hz.

Real Property Line means an imaginary line along the ground surface, and its vertical plane extension, which separates the real property owned, rented or leased by one person from that owned, rented or leased by another person, excluding intrabuilding real property divisions.

Residential Zone means any geographic area designated for single or Multifamily Dwelling by the zoning authority having jurisdiction over such area.

Road means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to public use for vehicular traffic, and every private way or private place over which the Sheriff's Office has traffic control jurisdiction under a F.S. § 316.006(3)(b), traffic control assignment.

RMS Sound Pressure means the square root of the time averaged square of the sound pressure, denoted Prms.

Sheriff's Office means the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

Sound means an oscillation in pressure, stress, particle displacement, particle velocity or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces. 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 or C, as specified in the latest revision of the ANSI Standard S1.4, "Specification for Sound Level Meters". If the frequency weighting employed is not indicated, the A-weighting shall apply.

Sound Level Meter means an instrument used for the measurement of sound pressure level, A-weighted Sound Level, or C-weighted Sound Level. Any Sound Level Meter used to determine compliance with this Ordinance shall meet or exceed the requirements for Type 2 Sound Level Meter in accordance with the latest revision of ANSI Standard S1.4, "Specification for Sound Level Meters". To be valid, readings from a Sound Level Meter shall be properly calibrated prior to each set of readings per the manufacturer's specifications.

Sound Pressure means the instantaneous difference between the actual pressure and the average or barometric pressure of a given point in space, as produced by sound energy.

Sound Pressure Level means 20 times the base 10 logarithm of the ratio of the RMS sound pressure to the reference pressure of 20 microPascals. The sound pressure level is denoted Lp or SPL and is expressed in decibels.

Vehicle, which also includes all motor vehicles, means every device in, upon, or by which any individual or property is or may be transported or drawn upon roadway (excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks), including but not limited to automobiles, commercial motor vehicles, trucks, tandem trailer trucks, trailers, semi-trailers, buses, motorcycles, tractors, farm labor vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, two-rider all-terrain vehicles, mopeds, go-carts, maxi-cube vehicles, motorized scooters, motorized bikes, and bicycles, whether moving or stationary.

(Ord. No. 90-17, § 5; Ord. No. 93-77, § 2; Ord. No. 07-61, § 1; Ord. No. 2008-68, § 4)

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.