Resident says neighbor’s generator exceeds city noise limits; council approves noise ordinance first reading and asks staff to meet parties

A resident told the Minot City Council on Feb. 3 that a neighbor’s backup generator runs weekly for 20 minutes and is loud enough to prevent conversation on the front porch. The resident, Kent Bail of Edgewood Village, said an on-site measurement by a city officer found interior readings “around 60 decibels” and exterior readings “70 or better” near the front door. Bail said he and other residents want the city to retain a 55-decibel residential threshold rather than increase it.

Bail described the unit as an older standby generator that “runs at about 3,000 RPMs” and said the noise “wears on you” during weekly operation. He told the council that Sergeant Foley’s memo recorded a violation and recommended HOA action before city enforcement because pursuing the city route could involve legal costs for an association.

The Council approved first reading of a revised Chapter 23 noise ordinance during the meeting. City staff and the city attorney said the proposed ordinance raises the outdoor residential guideline from 55 to 60 decibels to align with common household appliance noise thresholds (lawnmowers, leaf blowers and similar equipment) and to avoid making ordinary residential activity a per se violation. The city attorney noted that enforcement often relies on a “reasonableness” standard—what an ordinary person would find objectionable—and that homeowner associations may adopt more restrictive standards for their communities.

Council members and staff agreed to follow up. The city attorney proposed meeting with both parties and staff said they would arrange further discussion to explore mitigation such as adjusting the generator’s exercise frequency (the neighbor indicated manufacturers sometimes recommend less frequent exercise runs) and noise-reduction measures such as a sound hood or enclosure. Council asked staff to meet with the resident and the homeowner with the generator and report back with options; no final ordinance changes were made at the meeting beyond first reading approval.

Why it matters: The case highlights the tension between citywide nuisance standards and highly localized impediments to residents’ enjoyment of their homes. Changes to the noise ordinance will affect enforcement thresholds citywide; staff said the proposed 60-dB threshold was intended to avoid restricting normal residential activities while preserving enforcement against genuinely disruptive noise sources.

What happens next: Staff will meet the parties and report possible mitigation measures and any recommended ordinance refinements before the next reading of the ordinance. The first-reading approval will return for a second reading before final adoption.