5 rules for unincorporated Elkhart County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Elkhart County has no fixed quiet hours; its around-the-clock ordinance (Chapter 94) treats any sound over 83 dBA at 15 feet, or plainly audible 50 feet away after a warning, as prohibited noise.
Elkhart County Code § 94.03(C) (Ord. 2013-407)
Any noise that exceeds a level of 83 dBA based on a distance from the noise source of not less than 15 feet, and irrespective of the 50 feet standard set forth in divisions (B)(1) through (B)(8), shall be prima facie evidence of a violation.
Unincorporated Elkhart County sets no protected construction hours. Building noise falls under the same Chapter 94 limits as any sound, though § 94.04 exempts manufacturing in industrially zoned areas, key in the RV Capital.
Elkhart County Code § 94.04(F)
From equipment or operations utilized for permitted or authorized manufacturing purposes within a county area zoned for, or subject to a special use permit or variance for, such permitted manufacturing purposes.
Elkhart County Code § 94.03 makes keeping any animal whose frequent or long-continued noise disturbs neighbors a prohibited noise, enforced after a termination request. Indiana also imposes strict owner liability under IC 15-20-1.
Elkhart County Code § 94.03(B)
The keeping of any animal which by causing unreasonable frequent or long-continued noise shall disturb the comfort or repose of any person in the county area after a termination request.
Indiana has no gas leaf-blower ban, and Elkhart County sets no lawn-equipment hours. Blowers and mowers must simply meet Chapter 94's 83 dBA limit; only agricultural equipment in ag zones is exempt.
Elkhart County Code § 94.04(E)
From equipment or operations utilized for agricultural purposes within a county area zoned for agriculture.
Elkhart County § 94.03 makes a radio, stereo, or instrument plainly audible 50 feet away after a warning prohibited noise. Goshen separately bars amplified sound heard past a parcel line from midnight to 7:00 a.m.
Elkhart County Code § 94.03(B)
The use, operation or permitting of its use or operation, of any such sound machine in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which it is located after a termination request shall be prima facie evidence of a violation.
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