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New Noise Law Proposed

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By LAURA KINSLER

lkinsler@tampatrib.com

Published: February 12, 2009

DADE CITY - City Attorney Karla Owens wants city commissioners to reconsider a noise ordinance that board members shot down three years ago.

"This is the exact same ordinance we proposed before," Owens said. "We continue to receive consistent complaints, and our current ordinance is not enforceable in a court of law."

The current ordinance has not been updated since 1973. But when Owens proposed a new ordinance in 2006, commissioners complained that the nine-page document was too long and complicated. The issue never came up for a formal vote.

The changes propose specific volume limits for residential and industrial activities, depending on the time of day, day of the week and proximity to homes.

For instance, after 10 p.m., apartment and condominium residents could not turn up the volume on stereos or television sets louder than an average dishwasher. Boat engines would have to be quieted at night to the level of normal human conversation.

The use of construction equipment would be limited to between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and the noise would have to be contained. The limits would apply to noise generated in the city and noise reaching the city from bordering properties.

"We're not going to go out there like Attila the Hun," Owens said. "We'll enforce it like any other code violation."

Special events, such as movies in the park, Battle of the Bands and Sparklebration would be exempt from the regulations.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 779-4617.

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