§ 9.40.010. Definitions.

The following words shall have the following meanings:

1.

"Amplified sound" means sound including but not limited to music, singing or spoken words that are conveyed through the utilization of sound amplification equipment.

2.

"A-weighted sound system" means standards related to the measurement of sound pressure that accounts for the relative loudness perceived by the human ear.

3.

"dB(A)" means a unit of the measurement of sound in decibels, as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighted system.

4.

"Decibel (dB)" means a unit of measurement for sound pressure level at a specified location.

5.

"Motor vehicle" means any vehicle which is propelled or drawn on land by a motor, such as, but not limited to, passenger cars, trucks, truck-trailers, semitrailers, campers, watercraft, go-carts, dune buggies or racing vehicles, but not including motorcycles.

6.

"Motorcycles" means an unenclosed motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the operator and two or three wheels in contact with the ground, including, but not limited to, motor scooters and minibikes.

7.

"Muffler" means a device for abating the sound of escaping gases of an internal combustion engine.

8.

"Noise nuisance" means any loud, irritating, vexing or disturbing sound originating from a nearby property under separate ownership or occupancy which causes injury, discomfort, or distress of a person of reasonable sensibilities, or any sound that exceeds the maximum permitted sound levels specified in this chapter.

9.

"Nonresidential property" means any real property that is not included in the definition of residential property as defined in this section. Without limitation, the term includes properties that have been developed other than as residential properties, properties that are undeveloped, and properties that are devoted to public purposes, such as public streets and parks.

10.

"Park" means any public park within the limits of the City of El Paso, including parks owned by the City of El Paso, County of El Paso, or State of Texas.

11.

"Permit official" has the same meaning as defined in Section 1.04.030.1 of the El Paso City Code.

12.

"Person" means an individual, firm, association, partnership, joint venture, corporation or any entity, public or private in nature.

13.

"Public right-of-way" means any street, alley, sidewalk or other place to which the public has legal access.

14.

"Reasonable sensibilities" means the ordinary, typical and/or expected sensory perception of noise when taking into account the source, volume, time of day and duration of the noise.

15.

"Residential property" means a parcel of real property which is developed and used in part or in whole for human habitation, other than transient uses such as hotels, motels, and hospitals.

16.

"Sound amplification equipment" means a loud speaker, public address system, amplification system for voice and musical instruments, or other sound producing device that relies on electrical power to generate and/or amplify sound.

17.

"Sound level" means the weighted sound pressure level obtained by the use of a sound level meter and frequency weighting network as specified in American National Standards Institute specifications for sound level meters. If the frequency weighting employed is not indicated, the A-weighting shall apply.

18.

"Sound level meter" means an instrument which is used to measure sound pressure levels, issued by the city and meeting the standards prescribed by the American National Standards Institute.

19.

"Stadium Event" means an event occurring at an outdoor stadium that is not related to a public or private school activity, including but not limited to concerts, professional sports competitions, and entertainment events.

(Ord. 16812 §§ 32 (part), 33, 34, 2007; prior code § 12-106)

(Ord. No. 17392, § 7, 8-24-2010, eff. 9-1-2010; Ord. No. 18908 , § 1, 2-26-2019)