Here is a sign posted at a downtown Bethesda construction site reminding workers they cannot make any noise before 7:00 AM on weekdays (9:00 AM on weekends). Some construction sites, including the 7900 Wisconsin Avenue project
recently cited by nearby residents for breaking these rules, do not have this reminder posted. This means no idling engines, no beeping back-ups, etc. before the permissible hour. Exceptions require a nighttime noise waiver from Montgomery County.
16 comments:
Can someone clarify - you can make some degree of noise as long as it is below the quiet hours decimal threshold right?
No, as the sign says, no noise. For a construction site, it doesn't have to meet the decibel standard.
I did construction on my house and it was a decibel limit, according to the permits and MC DPS inspectors.
Can you cite the regulation where it's "no noise" at all if it's a construction site?
That shabby yellow sign doesn't state the ordinance and isn't an official MC DPS sign.
There's a decibel limit. Work can be done as long as it's under the limit.
Construction Noise Exemptions and Standards
The Montgomery County Noise Control Law defines construction as temporary activities directly associated with site preparation, assembly, erection, repair, alteration, or demolition of structures or roadways. Construction noise levels must be measured on a receiving property, but no closer than 50 feet from the noise source.
Notice to Contractors
From 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, construction noise levels must not exceed:
75 dBA without a Noise Suppression Plan
85 dBA with a Noise Suppression Plan
See the Guidelines for further information on a Noise Suppression Plan
At all times other than 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, the general guidelines in the Noise Control Law must be met. The following table provides a summary of the noise standards for construction activities:
Construction Noise Standards by Time of Day
Time of Day
Residential
Non-residential*
Weekday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (exempted hours) 75 dBA (85 dBA with a Noise Suppression Plan) 75 dBA (85 dBA with a Noise Suppression Plan)
Weekday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (daytime hours) 65 dBA 67 dBA
Weekday: 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. 55 dBA 62 dBA
Weekends and Holidays**: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (daytime hours) 65 dBA 67 dBA
Weekends and Holidays**: 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. (nighttime hours) 55 dBA 62 dBA
County link
Does this mean that farting is illegal?
What a bunch of busybodies. Same folks who got the Parva closed.
I am doing renovation on my house right now and I asked the inspector who said yes you can do construction anytime you want as long as it is below the noise limit.
"For a construction site, it doesn't have to meet the decibel standard."
It's rather ridiculous to claim that such a legal restriction would not have an objective, numerical definition that would be easily understood by all parties involved.
Um, Dyer... that is a notice posted by the construction contractor as a reminder to their workers, not by the County. If it had actually been posted by the County, it would have said so explicitly, and state specifically the restriction that applies, and cite the relevant law or code.
Let's be clear: the sign is very succinct and true- no noise before 7AM. Most construction sites around town have a similar sign. I'm looking forward to seeing a this sign finally go up at 7900 Wisconsin.
The limit of sound as Anna posted, 65 decibels is pretty quiet, no?
A noise annoys an oyster,
But a noisy noise annoys an oyster more.
~ R.P. Weston and Bert Lee
So it sounds like you can do construction as long as it is below the sound limit. Robert, can you help explain why you think you cannot?
Let’s be clear: a barely-legible sign of questionable provenance does not indicate anything about County noise regulations. For all we know, Roald printed and posted this sign himself.
These types of signs are up at most construction sites around town. No idea why this new project on Wisconsin doesn't.
#DodgingDyer is back at it.
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