Ordinance would quiet Clallam County clamor

PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County sheriff wants y’all to quiet down, y’heah? Y’heah? I said, Y’HEAH? That’s better.

The sheriff’s new anti-commotion ordinance, which still is being amended, would outlaw “public disturbance noises” such as those from a dirt bike, a garage band or a boom box in an inappropriate place.

Clallam County commissioners could receive and review the proposed law next week.

It establishes a 90-day jail term or $250 fine for violations.

The ordinance is more complex than someone simply deciding his next-door neighbor’s party is too loud.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

It establishes three classes of “environmental designations for noise abatement,” or EDNAs:

* Rural, residential, and resort neighborhoods.

* Commercial, open space, and mixed-use zones.

* Industrial areas, commercial forests, and airports.

The ordinance sets limits for each EDNA where noise originates and for each class of property where it’s heard.

Briefly, they range from 55 decibels — dBA — for residential-to-residential noise to 70 dBA for industrial-to-industrial racket.

The noise limits are reduced by 10 dBA between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. in rural/residential areas.

Whatever the time, they may not be exceeded by 5 dBA for 15 minutes in any one hour, 10 dBA for five minutes or 15 dBA for 90 seconds.

There are, of course, exceptions, the most obvious being safety devices, first responders’ sirens, and church bells.

Also exempt from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. are construction sounds, shooting at authorized ranges, utility repairs, and blasting.

Exempt except from rural/residential areas between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. are tree cutting, auto races at authorized facilities, and hunting.

People who simply cannot keep the cacophony down for good reasons can seek variances from the county Department of Community Development.

More in News

Facilities district for pool paused

Jefferson County does not receive grant

From left, Port Angeles school board members Sarah Methner, Mary Hebert, Stan Willams, Superintendent Marty Brewer, Kirsten Williams, Sandy Long and Nolan Duce, the district’s director of maintenance, turn the first shovel of dirt on Saturday at the location of the new construction just north of the present Stevens Middle School. An estimated crowd of 150 attended the ceremonial ground breaking. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles School District breaks ground at new middle school

Building is expected to open to students in 2027

Family displaced following house fire

A Clallam County family has been displaced due a… Continue reading

Two investigated for burglarizing home

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two individuals… Continue reading

Beach cleanups set for Earth Day weekend

Beach cleanups, a seed exchange, seed planting and music will mark Earth… Continue reading

Easter egg hunts scheduled for Saturday

Easter activities, including egg hunts and pictures with the Easter bunny, are… Continue reading

Four Quileute Tribal School students take a salmon offering into the ocean as part of the annual Welcoming the Whales ceremony at First Beach in La Push on Friday. (Christi Baron/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Welcoming the Whales

On Friday, Quileute Tribal School students performed the annual Welcoming the Whales… Continue reading

Former USAID worker Miguel Reabold, shown with a colleague in Honduras in 2018. (Miguel Reabold)
USAID worker fears damage

Reabold worries about relationships

No flight operations scheduled

There will be no field carrier landing practice operations for… Continue reading

Caro Tchannie and her daughter Lola Hatch, 9, of Tulallip try a long string of beads at Squatchcon on Thursday at the Vern Burton Community Center gym in Port Angeles. Kevin VanDinter of Port Angeles was one of 60 vendors at the four day event, which continues through Sunday. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Squatchcon underway

Caro Tchannie and her daughter Lola Hatch, 9, of Tulallip try a… Continue reading

Capital budgets include Peninsula

Millions in state funds earmarked

Mike Chapman.
Chapman asks not to employ legislative privilege

State senator removes an exemption to Public Records Act