Parma Heights council advances draft noise ordinance; backs 9 p.m.–7 a.m. quiet hours while debating decibel limits and exemptions

Parma Heights City Council members reviewed a draft noise ordinance at a Feb. 13 work session and said they were close to agreeing on quiet hours running from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., seven days a week, while reserving further debate for how to measure and define prohibited noise.

"I feel that we met a consensus for the quiet time to be from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., 7 days a week, 12 months of the year," Council President Tom Rounds said as the council opened the discussion. The council discussed whether the ordinance should be framed by the equipment used or by a measured sound level.

Members questioned the originally proposed 60-decibel limit as too low. "60 decibels is normal conversation level, 70 is a washing machine or dishwasher," Councilwoman Maruschak said, arguing that a 60 dB cap would rule out ordinary household activity. Rounds and others said lawnmowers and similar equipment typically register around 80–85 dB, and several members signaled support for a threshold closer to that range.

Council members also discussed distance and practical effects. Maruschak favored keeping a 50-foot buffer in the draft so very loud equipment such as stump grinders would still register as distant to neighbors; members noted, however, that equipment used next door will still sound louder despite a setback.

The council debated whether some tools should be classified by the device ("domestic power tools") or by how they are used. "It depends on the definition because he can go to Home Depot and rent a stump grinder — does that make it commercial or domestic?" Councilman Stavole asked, prompting calls to define "domestic use" rather than only the tool type.

Snow removal and emergency work emerged as a practical sticking point. Councilwoman Walsh said snowblowers were currently excluded under Section A of the draft. Captain Czack suggested tying allowances to the city's snow-ban declarations so that, when a snow ban is in effect, residential snow removal would be permitted. Members also emphasized that public-service and utility work (for example, sewer crews) should remain exempt so emergency responses or required municipal services are not impeded.

Mayor Gallo and Law Director Schneider were present for legal and operational guidance; Gallo said she did not have the code text at hand but believed current rules allow commercial snowplowing in residential areas at all hours. The council agreed that the next drafting step is to clarify definitions — especially "domestic use," the list of exempted services, and how decibel limits will be measured — before bringing a finalized ordinance back for formal action.

The work session concluded at 6:47 p.m. with no formal vote taken; council members directed staff to refine definitions and bring the ordinance language back for further consideration.