Noise ordinance passed in Carpentersville

An updated noise ordinance in Carpentersville will make it simpler for those who complain, those who perpetrate and those who ensure compliance to identify an unreasonable level of noise.

The village board on Tuesday voted 6-0 in favor of the ordinance that adopts a "loud and raucous" standard for certain types of noises, such as landscaping equipment, pets, amplifiers and horns and signaling devices. Trustee Paul Humpfer was absent.

In a memorandum to the board, Village Attorney James Rhodes said the standard "is adequate to prevent noises from rising to a level of being outrageous."

The previous ordinance prohibited "unreasonably harsh or loud sounds," "noise louder than necessary," and "noise so as to annoy or disturb persons in the vicinity."

However, village attorney James Rhodes said those standards are not objective and are difficult to enforce.

Under the new standards, Rhodes said "specific objective and easily measured or determined standards are set forth for each type of noise, and in some instances, the times at which the generation of such noise would disturb the repose of a reasonable person of normal sensitivity."

For instance, amplified sounds such as noise generated from a stereo speaker, cannot be heard from a distance of 25 feet from the property line between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Additionally, a specific standard was also drafted for animal noise. The ordinance states that sounds such as barking and yelping cannot be plainly heard from the property line for more than five minutes without interruption, or more than four times in any minute.

"Neighbors should deal with neighbors, I don't argue with that," Rhodes said, alluding to comments posted on the Daily Herald's Web site. "But this offers a method of enforcement when neighbors can't deal with neighbors."

Fines for violating the noise ordinance range from $150 to $750.