Committee holds county noise ordinance update after residents raise highway-noise and exemption questions

The Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee on Sept. 26 heard testimony on CB-73-2024, a proposal to modify Prince George’s County noise-control provisions to conform with Maryland regulations. The sponsor said the bill replaces county exceptions that are less stringent than state rules and emphasized health risks from chronic noise exposure.

Sponsor remarks read from county enforcement guidance about health impacts of noise: "Unregulated sources of noise can have impacts far beyond the obvious transitory nuisance... Exposure to loud noise has been shown to result in uncontrollable stress, which can result in alteration in mood as well as hormonal and nervous system changes in healthy subjects." Several residents told the committee the draft lacks explicit measures for highway noise; Demetrius Roberts asked that the bill be rewritten to address highway-noise mitigation for residential areas.

Administration staff signaled preliminary support but flagged technical enforcement and capacity questions. Yolanda Provost, speaking for her household, sought clarification whether an outdoor private event with a valid use-and-occupancy permit could be exempted from dBA/dBC limits and whether the exemption applies day and/or night; she also noted apparent contradictions between exemption language and a separate prohibition on amplifying devices.

After public comment and staff discussion, a committee member moved to hold CB-73 to allow follow-up with the administration and technical staff; the clerk recorded a 3-0 vote to hold the bill until the committee’s Oct. 10 meeting.