So im out in my garage working on my truck, getting excited cause its really starting to come together. Im out in the garage and a city truck drives by a few times while i was out grinding down some welds. I figured it was for something next door because they are doing a bunch of construction. Well, he comes over to my house and tells me that he had a complaint from one of the neighbors about excessive noise. Ive been making noise in my garage for many years, and all of a sudden this happens. So I recieved a notice of violation and if it happens again I get fined. Im so freaking pissed right now, im about to start knocking on doors to try and find out who it was. I never work late at night or early morning, im always respectful to the neighbors and this happens. I had my air compressor going, grinder, and sander....but im sure it was the grinder that was making the most noise. Why couldnt the person just approach me and tell me, maybe we couldve worked something out, but nooo they had to call the damn city. Im sooo pissed right now. Anybody have any similar stories, and maybe some advice? Thanks for listening to my ranting.
most noise ordinances are for specific times. You cant tell me a grinder is any louder than a lawn mower.
12:15 pm. This is what it says on the notice of violation-Corrective action required: No longer use excessively loud machines.
12:15 //like right after lunch?..PM..right not AM? i suggest you get a copy of this ordinance they say you violated..read it word for word because if it was durring daylight hours ,, than how the hell is the neighbor building a houseor "constuction" without breaking the same ordinance? if it was 12 midnight..than your screwed..most cities have an after 10 or 11 noise ordinance
differnt things piss off different people i could ring necks of dudes running leaf blowers, regardless of the time of day. grinders and such dont bother me that much, but i bet they bother some, lol as said, many ordinances are time based, but a freind was having a b-day party for his daughter, and the cops showed around 8pm. the dude said they'd be done by ten as to comply with the noise laws the cop then added that the time on that law was changed , and you can be subject to a 400 fine at any time of day that the cops are called to your house for a noise disturbance call. im sure they are more strict in the higher rent areas, but most cities have some kind of restriction i'd drop little notes in all the neighbors mail boxes, and offer free welding on small repairs and such and they just might not bitch anymore.. an old trick i learned is if you are havin a party, invite the whole neighborhood, and most wont show, but will feel that they were included and wont call the cops. all that said, when i get home from a day of work b/s , i aint in much of a mood to hear work noises, as any gardner in my area will verify, lol good luck skull
contruction work is exempt from many codes for a period of time, and can leave dumpsters sit'n around, that we'd get a hassle for. otherwise, we'd have no construction work going on, lol skull
I don't know how it works in California (you got so many strange laws there) but in Michigan, a noise camplaint has to be signed by the person complaining. Most of the time the complainant won't sign because they don't want anyone to know who they are. Keep grinding and put them to the test.
I agree....get it, read it thoughly. Usually, daytime noise is not regulated and when it is must be over a certain decibel, usually about 85. Get it and post what you find. Even in snotty-ass neighborhoods a guy can use power equipment, especially at 12:15PM! They can't give you a ticket unless there is a violation and there can not be a vilation without a decipel reading with a calibrated decibel meter. No citation can be written just because to someone its too loud. There must be a reading and the reading with the meter must be from a given distance from said noise. It should all be spelled out in the city ordinance/code. If not, it's bullshit. I've written ordinances, and if its not spelled out it cannot be enforced...
Could be a neighbor with a new baby that needs to sleep most of the time. You should also keep a log of when the construction site is using power saws and when lawn mowers and leaf blowers are in use.
possibly..and maybe not..got to read the code..anything else is just mental masterbation..read the code. That will tell you if you did in fact violate or not. and im sure no constuction company would be able to work at midnight making what ever noise they want without a violaation. and we do have rules here about dumpster placement and again we are still not certain it was midnight or noon..by PM that says Noon to me..so i would wonder if he is truely in any violation by code
Look up the noise ordinance. If you were cited, they should reference it. Odds are good that the text will mention a certain decibel level. This decibel level is as measured at any real property boundary. Here in K.C. it happens to be 80db. I'm not saying you should be an asshole about this, but if you wanted to be, you could generate noise from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., just under the allowable decibel level. Just set up a loudspeaker playing something annoying, and measure at the edges of your property. A cheap decibelometer won't set you back more than $40 bux or so. I'll bet good money that your codes enforcement jackholes don't carry one, and write those citations arbitrarily. Good luck. It's a damn shame that nowadays being a good neighbor ain't good enough. You should note that just about any house, anywhere could be cited for something. It would be a shame if the neighbor who complained about you were to be reported as well.
I have been a victim of this exactly the way you have,first time out the code was a dick.When he came back the second time I stayed calm and asked ALOT of questions pertaining to the interperatation of said violations and how if you read EVERY page of the codes you will find many that contradict each other.He actually helped me out,he gave me advice on how to work the system correctly.Try closing your garage when you are grinding.Also anything you can do in the garage with the door down the better because chances are even if they complain next time he drives by he will keep on goin because your door is closed.THIS WORKS.It was the advice of the code guy and I stick to it and have had no issues again.
i say screw that..make the Bitch move! find out who it is , and send them a violation or 2..see how they like it.. (if in fact he ment 12:00PM..not AM..)
Ok..so I have the paper right here in front of me. It was at 12:15 in the afternoon. Municipal code violations: 17.108.130 CMC Zoning Violation. Corrective action required: No longer use excessively loud machines (he must have been reffering to my 4-1/2" angle grinder because that was the loudest tool I was using) So I think I might head down the city hall and find out exactly what I violated, and maybe try to find out how many decibals are actually allowed. I never work before 8 am or after 7 pm. Its mostly in the middle of the day. And usually just a couple of hours a day.
fuckem..i'd get back to grinding and when they show back up ask em if they want to hear how loud a 12 guage is at least at this point you would be in violation of something..and it would make it worth their while to come visit you
I had a neighbor come tearing into my yard one sunday when I was working on my harley. Didn't I know it was 4pm on a sunday! I told her to fuck off. now every time we drop off something to work on our house she calls the city for litter. 4 citations so far. I'm waiting until it is going to get into freeze season, then call on her peeling paint. then do it again in the spring when it falls off.
Im tellin ya man be nice when you get there and ask for the entire list of codes.they have to get it to you.
so I just checked that zoning code out on your citys website. Unless you are building an illegal fence your not breaking any laws. That ordinance has nothing to do with sound.
I have a couple of friends who been ticketed for things recently by code enforcement.My friends in San Bernardino were ticketed because there cars are not on concrete.The cars are in their yard behind a fence and they are all licensed and registered.Another friend in Riverside got sighted for a noise violation too!.I guess with all the foreclosures in the city and county they are not getting enough for property taxes and are starting to look for other income by screwing with us.
I feel for you with the dip-shit neighbors. Here is my story- The neighbor across the street has nothing better to do. She complained to the Sherrif that I had my travel trailer parked on the street. The Sherrif came by, told me that I had "an ederly or pain the butt neighbor with nothing else better to complain about" that called on me. The Sherrif pointed out that my trailer must be hooked to the tow vehicle in order to comply with local law. She understood that with my truck connected it blocked my driveway. I connected my old, ugly 77 Blazer to it and it was now in compliance. Since my wife needed to use the driveway too, I found a new place to park my rig. You see, the bitch that complined has alot of room in front of her house and I can park there legally for up to 72 hours. I did just that for the entire three days and moved it before the 72 hour mark. She has not made another complaint about my trailer being parked un-hitched since.
I have a copy of my local noise code in a sheet protector thingy right on the wall in my garage for quick reference. Thus I know the code better than my neighbors. You should too.
Even though the guy showed up at 12:15pm. That is not the exact time the complaint happened. It takes a while for them to come out. They must give you the time and date of the Complaint, So that you have a chance to fix it. You can not fight city hall. Close the doors and be reasonable with your noise. If you tell people to get fucked. you are the only one who will get that.
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