NEWPORT BEACH : City Hammering Out Law Regulating Noise

Regulation of leaf blowers remains the only noise issue to be resolved by the City Council, which this week agreed on outlines of the city’s first comprehensive noise ordinance.

Most speakers at the meeting favored tighter controls on various sources of noise, but opinions varied on the most egregious offenders. Golf course maintenance, sounds from beach-goers near homes, and noise from sports games at parks and schools topped the list of complaints.

After a three-hour discussion and public hearing Monday night, the council decided that greens maintenance may not begin before 6 a.m., and maintenance of sand traps, fairways and other areas may not start before 7 a.m. Residents have complained that maintenance now starts as early as 5 a.m.

The new law also would classify all properties in the city as residential, commercial or industrial and assign acceptable noise limits for each. Noisy activities in commercial or industrial areas would be expected to maintain the lower-level standards of residential areas if the sounds carry that far. Under the regulations, daytime is 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; nighttime is 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Property maintenance is a separately regulated activity, with noisy functions limited from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.

The city cannot regulate noise from school properties, such as the Marian Bergeson Pool at Corona del Mar High School, if the noise is generated by district-sanctioned sports activities, City Attorney Robert Burnham said.

But a spokesman for the city’s Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission said the panel would work with school district officials to minimize noise from the pool and other sports.

The council voted to publicize the proposed gas blower ban and take more public testimony. Another hearing is scheduled Oct. 24.