Noise Ordinance Review

Summary

The Board of Representatives Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee is reviewing Chapter 164, the city noise ordinance, with the aim of replacing a convoluted 20-plus page ordinance with a 2 to 3 page version built on state minimum requirements. A draft is planned over the winter for legal review and introduction in spring.

Log

2026-10-22 - Board of Representatives Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee

• Discussion only (OPR 32.020). Health Department reported over 120 noise waiver requests in 2026, 241 complaints in the last year (mostly downtown), no after-hours inspectors, two noise meters and one citation. Members raised a plainly-audible standard, weekend construction hours, variances for permanent events, a hard stop for amplified music in parks, and early-morning downtown trash pickup. Staff said decibel readings are hard to rely on.