by Jackie Nunnery
LANCASTER—After yearlong discussions, Lancaster supervisors on Thursday, March 28, voted unanimously to update a noise ordinance that calls for stiffer penalties and enforcement.
“You can either be very specific, to the point you have law enforcement and county staff with decibel meters” or “you can be less strict which is what the planning commission went forward with,” said county administrator Don Gill.
Under the new ordinance, noise disturbance is “any sound which by its character, intensity and duration endangers or injures the health and safety of persons within the county.” Noise disturbances can be created regardless of hour by radios, televisions, speakers, or any musical instruments “with such volume that it is plainly audible inside the confines of the dwelling” when doors and windows are closed. They can also be created by vehicles, barking dogs, or gunfire between the hours of 11 p.m. and sunrise daily, except for 11 p.m. Saturday night to 9 a.m. Sunday morning.
The ordinance continues to make exemptions for farming and commercial watermen’s activities, but adds exemptions for gunfire associated with legal hunting activities, sounds associated with protection of property or health and safety of any person, or any event with a special event permit from the county.
Fines for violations increased from….
