The Board of Supervisors passed on first reading an ordinance (item 33) updating the city’s 1973 noise-control regulations by modernizing measurement methods, creating administrative penalties and establishing a noise task force to coordinate enforcement across departments.

Supervisor Tom Ammiano, the legislation’s sponsor, thanked multiple city departments and legal staff for contributing to the update. The ordinance changes how noise is measured — shifting enforcement to a measurement at the property plane of the source and accounting for ambient noise — a model the sponsor said was consistent with practices in New York City and Palo Alto. The measure also adds standards for low-frequency noise from musical equipment and creates an office within the Department of Public Health to monitor noise complaints and coordinate interagency response.

Dr. Rajiv Bhatia, director of environmental health for the Department of Public Health, told the board that San Francisco’s noise standards were based on 1970s zoning codes and were difficult to enforce. He said the ordinance was aimed at creating more accurate, enforceable measurement methods, collecting systematic noise data, and establishing a multi-agency task force to address complex problems such as motor-vehicle noise, noise creep from traffic growth, and helicopter/aircraft noise (which lie outside local jurisdiction). Bhatia said San Francisco’s noise levels in places exceed World Health Organization standards and can contribute to hypertension and sleep disturbance.

During roll call, the ordinance passed on first reading with nine ayes and two noes.

Ending: The measure passed on first reading and will create a noise task force and new departmental responsibilities to monitor and coordinate noise enforcement; supervisors said the ordinance is a mechanism, not a complete solution, and that the task force will help tackle more complex noise sources and data collection.