Who do i call to report noise pollution in Ann Arbor, Michigan?

The Ann Arbor city noise ordinance is part of the city code. You can find the Ann Arbor city code online (you'd be looking for chapter 119, NOISE CONTROL), or you can find the relevant parts of the city noise ordinance on Goodspeed Update.

If you need a noise permit in Ann Arbor, fill out this form (pdf). It will need to be approved by the Ann Arbor Police Department and by the City Clerk's office. You need 5 days notice and a $7.50 permit fee.

There's a recent post on Ron Suarez's blog noting loopholes in the city noise ordinance regarding commerical lawn care services.

The loophole concerns an exception to the Ordinance allowing lawn services to operate in residential neighborhoods at a very loud noise level (up to 90 decibels). The specific section in the Ordinance is Chap. 119, Sec. 9:364-365. This allowable noise level is louder than the noise from the average factory (75 decibels) and nearly as loud as that in the front row seats of a rock concert (110 decibels).

City Council regularly hears requests to change or modify the noise ordinance. The marching band was the target of a 2003 complaint:

After several years of waking to the music, Van't Hul requested Tuesday that the Ann Arbor City Council change the city's noise ordinance law so that loud public music can only be played after 9 a.m, extending the current law by two hours. This would force the marching band to change its practice schedule.

"Nothing the University has done is illegal," said Van't Hul. But he added that the noise is a problem that could be changed quickly. "All it is, is just postponing (the marching band's) drums for a few hours. That's all. There's a lot of working people in Ann Arbor who need to get some sleep."

Enforcement of the noise ordinance is done by the city police. Here's a 2006 fall party season account of enforcement (Michigan Daily)

Police may issue noise violations after 11 p.m. if any noise can be heard beyond the property line.

Dresleski said officers rarely show up at house parties unless the department receives a neighbor's noise complaint.

"We don't care if you party all night unless it interferes with others' rights to peace and quiet," said Dresleski.

The Ann Arbor police now chart noise violations by address - instead of by person receiving the violation - and the price of the ticket goes up with each offense.

(inspired by a query that came to my blog; my neighbors are for the most part quiet enough, and if there's any loud noises at 11pm from my house it's from my two year old crying)

Technorati Tags: annarbor, NOISE, a-little-bit-louder-now, a-little-bit-softer-now

Comments

[W.P. Fleischmann]

I recognize that the quantitative assertions come not from you nor from Ron Suarez, but my understanding of sound measurements is at odds with the statement that the "allowable noise level [of 'up to 90 decibels'] is louder than the noise from the average factory (75 decibels) and nearly as loud as that in the front row seats of a rock concert (110 decibels)."

The decibel scale is logarithmic. A difference of 10 decibels represents 10 *times* the power of the lower volume. The difference between the 90-decibel level allowed for lawn service and the 110 decibel front seats of a rock concert would then be two orders of magnitude.

[Libby Hemphill]

Living close to Michigan Stadium while it's under construction has increased my interest in Ann Arbor's noise ordinance. Thanks for the links, Ed. A couple have changed though. The city code now lives here: http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=11782&sid=22

Or you can start at the Clerk's page (with privacy policy) here: http://www.a2gov.org/government/city_administration/City_Clerk/Ordinances/Pages/Online%20City%20Code.aspx