9.14.010 Public disturbance noises.

It is unlawful for any person to cause, or for any person in possession of real or personal property to allow to originate from the property, sound that is a public disturbance noise. The following sounds are hereby determined to be public disturbance noises:

(1)    Frequent, repetitive, or continuous howling, barking, squawking or other noises made by any animal which unreasonably disturbs or interferes with the peace, comfort, and repose of receiving property owners or possessors; except that such sounds made by livestock, whether from commercial or noncommercial activities, and such sounds made in animal shelters, commercial kennels, veterinary hospitals, pet shops, or grooming parlors licensed under and in compliance with Title 8 shall be exempt under this subsection. Livestock on properties inside of urban growth boundaries may be subject to the provisions of Section 40.260.235.

It shall be deemed a public disturbance noise under this subsection for a dog to bark, bay, cry, howl or make any other noise continuously and/or incessantly for a period of ten (10) minutes or bark intermittently for one-half (1/2) hour or more to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night regardless of whether the dog is physically situated in or upon private property; provided, however, that a dog shall not be deemed a “barking dog” for purposes of this section if, at the time the dog is barking or making any other noise, a person is trespassing or threatening to trespass upon private property in or upon which the dog is situated or for any other legitimate cause the dog was teased or provoked to bark or make any other noise.

(2)    The frequent, repetitive or continuous sounding of any horn or siren attached to a motor vehicle, except as a warning of danger or as specifically permitted or required by law.

(3)    The creation of frequent, repetitive or continuous sounds in connection with the starting, operation, repair, rebuilding or testing of any motor vehicle, motorcycle, off-highway vehicle, or internal combustion engine, within a residential area, so as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the peace, comfort and repose of owners or possessors of neighboring real property; provided, that this subsection shall not apply to the operation of lawn mowers, garden tools, chain saws or other power equipment used for building repair or ground maintenance between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

(4)    The use of a sound amplifier or other device capable of producing or reproducing amplified sound upon public streets for the purpose of commercial advertising or sales or for attracting the attention of the public to any vehicle, structure, or property or the contents therein between the hours of 8:00 p.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the next day, except for emergency vehicles.

(5)    The making of any loud and raucous sound within one thousand (1,000) feet of any school, hospital, sanitarium, nursing or convalescent facility; which unreasonably interferes with the use of such facility, or with the peace, comfort, or repose of persons therein.

(6)    The use of a musical instrument, sound amplifier, or other device incorporating electrical signal volume control that produces or reproduces loud and/or raucous sounds which emanate frequently, repetitively or continuously from any building, structure or property so as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the peace, comfort or repose of owners or possessors of neighboring real property.

(7)    Except as otherwise authorized by this chapter, the use, in a vehicle upon a public street or roadway, of a sound amplifier or other device capable of producing or reproducing amplified sound, which causes the sound to be heard from fifty (50) feet away; provided, this provision shall not apply to emergency, fire or police vehicles.

(8)    Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, or singing on or near the public street, particularly between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time and place in a manner so as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the peace, comfort, and repose of owners or possessors of neighboring real property.

Where applicable, proof of violation of the noise level limitations set out in Chapter 173-60 WAC shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. (Sec. 1 of Ord. 1980-03-20; amended by Sec. 4 of Ord. 1991-11-09; amended by Sec. 1 of Ord. 2005-08-17; amended by Sec. 1 (Att. A) of Ord. 2012-02-03; amended by Sec. 28 of Ord. 2024-03-01)