Chapter 15.08
OUTDOOR SOUND SYSTEMS
Sections:
15.08.010 Declaration of purpose and necessity.
15.08.030 Outdoor sound system use prohibited.
15.08.050 Amortization and removal of existing public systems.
15.08.010 Declaration of purpose and necessity.
The city council finds and declares that the quiet enjoyment of individual properties is an important aspect of the environment of Poulsbo. Proliferation of outdoor speakers at public businesses has over time increased to the degree that the council finds that outdoor sound systems are negatively impacting both the residential and commercial environment of the city. The city council further finds that despite repeated warnings and requests for cooperation, business owners have failed to voluntarily limit the volume utilized in such systems to prevent the disturbance of adjacent properties. The council further finds that many reasonable alternatives to the use of outdoor sound systems in commercial enterprises such as pagers and other individual devices to alert salesmen are readily available on the market at a reasonable price. Therefore this chapter has been enacted in order to prohibit outdoor sound systems and establishing an amortization period for existing systems. (Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 92-20 § 2 (part), 1992)
15.08.020 Definitions.
The following definition shall be applied in this chapter:
“Outdoor sound system” includes electronic systems designed and intended for the amplification of the human voice, music or other sound or noise including but not limited to outside public address systems, voice amplification and any other form of loud speaker. (Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 92-20 § 2 (part), 1992)
15.08.030 Outdoor sound system use prohibited.
Except as provided in Section 15.08.040, no person shall install, maintain or operate an outdoor sound system on or from any property. (Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 92-20 § 2 (part), 1992)
15.08.040 Exemptions.
The following uses or activities shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
A. Private outdoor sound systems accessory to a residential use in a residential zone of the city; provided, however, that said residential outdoor sound systems shall not be operated at a volume audible beyond the boundaries of the property on which they are operated.
B. Mobile sound systems installed in vehicles and automobiles operated on public rights-of-way. This exemption shall not apply to vehicles while stopping, standing or otherwise at rest on public or private property.
C. Outdoor sound systems operated in conjunction with a duly licensed public event.
D. Intercoms. An intercom is a two-way communication system with a microphone and loudspeaker at each station for localized use. This exemption includes intercoms used by banks and fast food restaurants to communicate with customers and security devices used in apartment buildings to screen visitors. Intercoms shall comply with the limitations imposed by Section 9.80.120(B)(7) which prohibits the loudspeaker portion of the intercom from being audible off of the lot on which it is located. (Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 93-10 § 1, 1993; Ord. 92-20 § 2 (part), 1992)
15.08.050 Amortization and removal of existing public systems.
Any outdoor sound system in existence at the date the ordinance codified in this chapter becomes effective may be maintained and operated until December 31, 1992. The city council finds that reasonably priced alternatives to the use of outdoor sound systems exist and that an amortization period in excess of ninety days will provide users existing systems with a reasonable opportunity to obtain other alternative methods of communication with sales staff and others and complete reasonable economic use of existing facilities. Nothing in this chapter should be interpreted to authorize the use of a sound system at a level which would be audible off the property in violation of the provision of Section 9.80.120(B)(7). (Ord. 2021-09 § 2 (Att. A), 2021; Ord. 92-20 § 2 (part), 1992)