10 rules for unincorporated Lake County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Lake County, Indiana has a real noise ordinance (Code Chapter 93, Ord. 1116A). Its general rule bans any noise that unreasonably annoys or disturbs others at any hour, and specific nighttime limits apply to power tools (10 p.m.-7 a.m.), construction (8 p.m.-7 a.m.) and parties (10 p.m.-8 a.m.).
Lake County, IN Code of Ordinances § 93.01 (Prior Code § 94.02; Ord. 1116A)
No person shall make or cause to be made any noise that unreasonably annoys, disturbs, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace, safety, or welfare of any person or precludes their enjoyment of property or affects their property's value.
In unincorporated Lake County, Indiana it is unlawful to operate construction, drilling or demolition equipment between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in a way that disturbs or annoys a reasonable person nearby (Code § 93.02(C)). Daytime construction is generally allowed subject to the general noise rule.
Lake County, IN Code § 93.02(C) (Prior Code § 94.03; Ord. 1116A-1)
Construction. Operating or permitting the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling or demolition between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner that will disturb or annoy any reasonable person nearby;
Unincorporated Lake County, Indiana makes it unlawful at any time to keep any animal that, by frequent or habitual howling, barking, meowing, squawking or other noise, causes a noise disturbance (Code § 93.02(F)). The rule also covers animal pounds and facilities.
Lake County, IN Code § 93.02(F) (Prior Code § 94.03; Ord. 1116A-1)
Animals. At no time owning, keeping, possessing, or harboring any animal or animals which, by frequent or habitual howling, barking, meowing, squawking, or other noise making, causes a noise disturbance. The provisions of this section shall also apply to all private or public facilities, including animal pounds, which hold or treat animals.
Unincorporated Lake County, Indiana has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance, but leaf blowers fall under the domestic power-tool rule: operating any lawn or garden tool outdoors between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. so as to disturb or annoy a reasonable person nearby is unlawful (Code § 93.02(B)).
Lake County, IN Code § 93.02(B) (Prior Code § 94.03; Ord. 1116A-1)
Domestic power tools. Operating or permitting the use or operations of any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, grinder, lawn or garden tool, lawnmower, or similar device used outdoors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in such a manner that will disturb or annoy any reasonable person nearby;
In unincorporated Lake County, Indiana it is unlawful at any hour to operate a radio, TV, musical instrument, amplifier or similar device so that it is plainly audible across property boundaries or through common partitions in a building (Code § 93.02(A)). Late-night parties face a separate 10 p.m.-8 a.m. limit.
Lake County, IN Code § 93.02(A) (Prior Code § 94.03; Ord. 1116A-1)
Radios, television sets, musical instruments, tape or record players, amplifiers, and similar devices. Operating or permitting the use or operation of any such device in such a manner as to be plainly audible across property boundaries or through partitions common to two or more persons within a building;
Lake County, Indiana's noise ordinance (Chapter 93) does not regulate aircraft noise; airspace and aircraft-noise regulation is preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Complaints about flights over the Region typically go to the operating airport or the FAA, not the county.
In unincorporated Lake County, Indiana a person in an industrial zone (I-1) may not cause boundary noise to exceed 66 dBA at all times (Code § 93.03(A)(3)). Industrial operations also may not create earth-shaking vibrations perceptible without instruments beyond the industrial zone boundary.
Lake County, IN Code § 93.03(A)(3), (C) (Prior Code § 94.05; Ord. 1116A-3)
If the person is located within an industrial zone: 66 dBA at all times.... No person within an industrial zone shall make or cause to be made any earth-shaking vibrations perceptible without the aid of instruments beyond the zone boundary of the zone in which the vibration source is located.
Unincorporated Lake County, Indiana sets numeric boundary decibel limits (Code § 93.03): 55 dBA at all times for residential and commercial zones and 66 dBA for industrial zones, measured at the property boundary. Perceptible earth-shaking vibrations beyond the boundary are also prohibited.
Lake County, IN Code § 93.03(A) (Prior Code § 94.05; Ord. 1116A-3)
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause the sound pressure level to exceed the limits listed below at any point on the boundary of the property where the person is located. (1) If the person is located within a residential zone: 55 dBA at all times. (2) If the person is located within commercial zone: 55 dBA at all times. (3) If the person is located within an industrial zone: 66 dBA at al...
Unincorporated Lake County, Indiana bars parties or gatherings between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. that give rise to noise plainly audible across property boundaries (Code § 93.02(E)). Outdoor amplified music at any hour must also stay under the 55 dBA residential boundary limit and not be plainly audible next door.
Lake County, IN Code § 93.02(E) (Prior Code § 94.03; Ord. 1116A-1)
Participation in noisy parties or gatherings. Participation in any party or gathering between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. giving rise to noise that is plainly audible across property boundaries or between partitions common to two or more persons within a building;
In unincorporated Lake County, Indiana it is unlawful for a light motor vehicle to exceed 80 dBA in 35-mph-or-less zones (measured 15+ feet from the lane), or to make excessive noise from defective or modified exhaust, rapid acceleration, engine revving or tire squealing (Code § 93.04). Indiana law (IC 9-19-8-3)
Lake County, IN Code § 93.04(A) (Prior Code § 94.04; Ord. 1116A-3)
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause the sound pressure level of the noise emitted during the operation of a light motor vehicle to exceed 80 dBA in speed zones of 35 mph or less within unincorporated Lake County. The sound pressure level measurements shall be made at a distance of not less than 15 feet from the edge of the lane of travel of the violator.
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