Posted by Ian on January 4th, 2010
Charlottesville City Council is convening for it’s first meeting of 2010 tonight (01/04), and the hot topic will be a petition from some Belmont homeowners to enact a new noise ordinance. This topic was visited by downtown mall dwellers in March of 2008, when the city set the limit of 75db for round the clock operation of bars & restaurants.
While few, if any, citations have been issued in relation to the March ordinance, Belmont denizens apparently believe it is still ‘too darn loud’, and are requesting a limit of 55db after the 11PM hour. BNAP, (Belmont Neighborhood Association President) Jesse Fiske, cited late nigh bands as a reason locals are unable to sleep or enjoy their premises. Fiske is hoping the new law will provide a ‘tool’ for folks to utilize when combating this continuing problem.
To provide a clear(er) definition of the volume levels being discussed here, 75db equates to normal conversation heard from 3-5′ away, a dial tone provides 80db (@ speaker output), and a neighbors AC unit from 25′ away averages 57db. Additionally, all volume levels are to be taken at the establishments door. [Photo Credits]
Turn That Damned Racket...
Posted by Thor on August 31st, 2008
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BOOM! If you live near the Brookwood Development, prepare to hear explosions “about once a day for a couple of months.” Dynamite will be used in an effort to clear land to make room for 20 new homes. Residents are worried about a gas line exploding due to shock waves from the dynamite, but I’m not a blaster, so I have no idea about the danger.
I wonder if the explosions comply with the noise ordinance… probably not!
[via NBC 29]
Posted by Thor on March 5th, 2008
OH Snap. No more late night headbanger parties. WCAV Reports:
All city restaurants will have a new limit of 75 decibels after 11p.m. The reading is for outside the establishment. Restaurants are advised to keep the door closed to keep the sound inside.
The council says that if a police officer takes a reading with the door open then that will be the official reading. Noise on the downtown mall is limited to 75 decibels all day. That includes street performers and restaurants.
Examples of decibel levels from wikipedia:
| Source of sound |
Sound pressure |
Sound pressure level |
|
pascal |
dB re 20 μPa |
Theoretical limit for undistorted sound at
1 atmosphere environmental pressure |
101,325 Pa |
191.085 dB |
| Krakatoa explosion at 100 miles (160 km) in air |
20,000 Pa |
180 dB |
| Simple open-ended thermoacoustic device [6] |
12,000 Pa |
176 dB |
| M1 Garand being fired at 1 m |
5,000 Pa |
168 dB |
| Jet engine at 30 m |
630 Pa |
150 dB |
| Rifle being fired at 1 m |
200 Pa |
140 dB |
| Threshold of pain |
100 Pa |
130 dB |
| Hearing damage (due to short-term exposure) |
20 Pa |
approx. 120 dB |
| Jet at 100 m |
6 – 200 Pa |
110 – 140 dB |
| Jack hammer at 1 m |
2 Pa |
approx. 100 dB |
| Hearing damage (due to long-term exposure) |
6×10−1 Pa |
approx. 85 dB |
| Major road at 10 m |
2×10−1 – 6×10−1 Pa |
80 – 90 dB |
| Passenger car at 10 m |
2×10−2 – 2×10−1 Pa |
60 – 80 dB |
| TV (set at home level) at 1 m |
2×10−2 Pa |
approx. 60 dB |
| Normal talking at 1 m |
2×10−3 – 2×10−2 Pa |
40 – 60 dB |
| Very calm room |
2×10−4 – 6×10−4 Pa |
20 – 30 dB |
| Leaves rustling, calm breathing |
6×10−5 Pa |
10 dB |
So, you can’t be louder than a passenger car in a restaurant? This is retarded. Bars have got to be louder than this at night. If you live downtown, you should deal with above average noise levels. I’m pissed. Say goodbye to outdoor shows, late night music, etc.
What do you think?
Charlottesville City Council is convening for it’s first meeting of 2010 tonight (01/04), and the hot topic will be a petition from some Belmont homeowners to enact a new noise ordinance. This topic was visited by downtown mall dwellers in March of 2008, when the city set the limit of 75db for round the clock operation of bars & restaurants.
