§ 16-54. Definitions.

For the purpose of this section the following terms have the definitions herein ascribed to them:

Authorized event means an event is deemed to be authorized if the event received an official permit for the event through the City of Elgin, an authorized sporting event at the City of Elgin Parks and Recreation, and events approved by the Elgin Independent School District at their campuses within the City of Elgin.

Chief of police means the City of Elgin Chief of Police or his designated representative.

City official with enforcement authority means the City of Elgin Chief of Police, his designated representative, or any Code Enforcement Official for the City of Elgin.

Commercial district means nonresidential property means any real property within the limits of the city which is not zoned as R-1, R-2, R-3 or A.

Construction means any site preparation, assembly, erection, repair, alteration or similar action, or demolition of buildings or structures.

Decibel (dB) means the unit of measurement for sound level at a specific location.

Domestic power tool means any mechanically, electrically, or gasoline motor-driven tool, including, but not limited to,

(1)

Chainsaws:

(2)

Lawn equipment;

(3)

Drills; and

(4)

Power sprayers.

Emergency work means any work or action necessary to deliver essential services including repairing water, gas, electric, telephone, sewer facilities, or public transportation facilities, removing fallen trees from rights-of-way, or abating life threatening situations.

Impulsive sound means any sound having a duration of less than one second with an abrupt onset and rapid decay.

Measurement with sound level meter or decibel meter means measurement of the level of sound made by any source for the purpose of determining whether or not the sound falls within permissible levels according to this article. All measurements will conform to the following:

(1)

Measurement must be taken so as to provide a proper representation of the sound being measured;

(2)

The microphone of the meter should be positioned so as not to create any unnatural enhancement or diminution of the measured sound. A windscreen for the microphone should be used whenever possible.

(3)

Except as otherwise provided, measurements will be taken at or near the nearest property line of the property where the sound is being received.

Measuring instrument means an instrument such as a sound level meter or decibel meter, integrating sound meter, or dosimeter used to measure sound pressure levels conforming to Type 1 or Type 2 standards as specified in the latest version of ANSI standard S1.4-1983.

Motor vehicle means any vehicle that is propelled or drawn on land by an engine or motor.

Muffler means a sound dissipative device or system for attenuating the sound of escaping gases of an internal combustion engine.

Noise means any sound of a level and duration that is or can be harmful to human health, or would unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life or property in the city.

Noise control ordinance means the City of Elgin Noise Control Ordinance.

Noise disturbance means any sound which exceeds the sound level limits set forth in this article.

Plainly audible means any sound or noise from any source that can be clearly heard by a person with normal hearing faculties at a distance of 200 feet or more from the real property line of the source of the sound or noise in a commercial or industrial district at limits specified in the ordinance; or any sound or noise from any source that can be clearly heard by a person with normal hearing faculties at a distance of 50 feet or more from the real property line of the source of the sound or noise in a residential district at limits specified in the ordinance. This is subject to any exceptions and levels listed elsewhere in the ordinance.

Public right-of-way means any street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, sidewalk, or alley that is leased, owned, or controlled by a government entity.

Public space means any real property or structure thereon that is leased, owned, or controlled by a governmental entity.

Real property line means either:

(1)

The imaginary line, including its vertical extension, that separates one parcel of real property from another; or

(2)

The vertical and horizontal boundaries of a dwelling unit in a multi-dwelling unit building.

Residential district means residential property means any property zoned as R-1, R-2, R-3 or A.

Sound level means the instantaneous sound pressure level measured in decibels with a sound level meter or decibel meter.

(Code 1990, ch. 6, § 3(A); Ord. No. 2000-05-09-15, 5-9-2000; Ord. No. 2005-06-07-13, 6-7-2005; Ord. No. 2005-08-16-20, 8-16-2005; Ord. No. 2009-04-21-10, 4-21-2009; Ord. No. 2016-10-11-28 , § I, 10-11-2016; Ord. No. 2016-11-1-28 , § I, 11-1-2016)