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 Belfast
 Code of Ordinances
 Subpt. B. Land Use Regulations
 Chapter 102. Zoning
 Article IX. Performance Standards
 Division 4. Nonresidential Development Standards – Route 1 South Commercial, Searsport Avenue Commercial, Searsport Avenue Waterfront, Route 141 and Mill Lane Commercial, Route 137 Commercial Districts
  102-1256. Noise.

102-1256. Noise.

(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 (refer to table below). The maximum permissible sound pressure level of any continuous, regular or frequent source of sound produced by any industrial or other nonresidential uses (all nonresidential uses other than industrial activities) regulated by this division shall be established by the time period and type of land use listed below. Sound pressure levels shall be measured on a sound level meter at all major lot lines of the proposed site, at a height of at least four feet above the ground surface.
Sound Pressure Level Limit
7:00 a.m.—8:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m.
Other nonresidential activities
60 db(A)
55 db(A)
Industrial activities
70 db(A)
55 db(A)
The levels specified above may be exceeded by 10 dbA for a single period, not longer than 15 minutes, in any one day.
Noise shall be measured with a sound level meter meeting the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI S1 4-1961) "American Standard Specification for General Purpose Sound Level Meters". The instrument shall be set to A-weighted response scale and at the meter to the slow response. Measures shall be conducted in accordance with ANSI S1 2-1962 "American Standard Method for the Physical Measurements of Sound", or such standard as may be amended from time to time. The City code enforcement officer, however, may use a portable sound meter available to the City to establish potential noise levels. If the code enforcement officer registers a noise level that is either near to or greater than the above standards, the officer may use these results to require the property owner to conduct a sound level analysis from a licensed engineer that fully complies with the above standards and to present these results to the code enforcement officer for analysis. Further, the code enforcement officer or planning board may require a noise level study for any use which requests a permit from the City.
(b) 
No person shall engage in, cause, or permit any person to be engaged in very loud construction activities on a site (active construction area) located within 750 feet of any residential use between the hours of 8:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the following day. Construction activities shall be subject to the maximum permissible sound level specified for industrial districts for the periods within which construction is 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 between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 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 pubic streets, railways or airports.
Ord. No. 79-2001, 6-5-2001