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Council narrows proposed noise ordinance hours; most residential activities limited to evenings
Summary
After public input, council set a consistent quiet-hours framework for nuisance/noise code changes — generally limiting residential noise-making activities to a 7 p.m.–9 p.m. evening window with carved exceptions for construction/excavation and certain recreational uses — and asked staff to return an ordinance for adoption on June 1.
Council resumed consideration of proposed changes to the city’s nuisance and noise regulations. The code package lists a range of specific noisy activities and proposed allowable hours. Councilors debated whether to set a single consistent evening cutoff and how to treat exceptions for construction, home projects and recreational uses.
After lengthy discussion, council agreed to a generally consistent approach: most residential noises and equipment (mowing, leaf blowers, power tools and similar devices) would be limited to daytime hours, with an evening cutoff of 9 p.m. Councilors left construction/excavation exceptions intact (longer allowable hours and separate enforcement provisions) and agreed to keep some recreational/play area language separate with a later cutoff (10 p.m.) for supervised private courts/playgrounds. Councilors emphasized the need for clear exemptions for emergencies and utility repairs.
Councilor comments repeatedly balanced resident quality-of-life concerns with the practical needs of contractors and homeowners. One councilor said, “I just think that we as we build more and more multifamily housing, the parks are gonna be more important” and urged caution about curtailing healthy evening recreation. Staff agreed to return a final ordinance for adoption at the next meeting, with a plan to adopt on an emergency basis so it could take effect immediately if council wants.
What’s next: staff will draft the final ordinance incorporating the 7–9 p.m. / 10 p.m. carve-outs and present it for formal adoption, with clarified enforcement language and defined exemptions for emergency work.
