10 rules for unincorporated Ottawa County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Ottawa County adopts no countywide noise ordinance; each city and township sets its own. In the City of Holland, loud noises on public streets are barred between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or anytime they disturb a resident's quiet, comfort or repose.
City of Holland Code Sec. 19-5(3)
Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, singing or the making of any other loud noises on the public streets between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or the making of any such noise at any time so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any ... residence, or of any persons in the vicinity.
Construction hours are set by your municipality, not Ottawa County. The City of Holland prohibits building erection, demolition, alteration or repair on Sundays and on other days except between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
City of Holland Code Sec. 19-5(8)
The erection (including excavation therefor), demolition, alteration or repair of any building, and the excavation of streets and highways on Sundays, and on other days except between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Ottawa County licenses dogs but leaves barking-noise rules to cities and townships. The City of Holland's noise ordinance, Section 19-5(5), bars keeping any animal or bird whose frequent or long-continued noise disturbs the comfort or repose of any person.
City of Holland Code Sec. 19-5(5)
The keeping of any animal or bird that by causing frequent or long continued noise shall disturb the comfort or repose of any person.
Neither Ottawa County nor the City of Holland singles out leaf blowers. Their use is governed by the general noise ordinance, which bars loud noise that disturbs neighbors and requires engine exhaust to pass through an effective muffler.
The City of Holland's noise ordinance targets amplified sound directly. Radios, stereos, musical instruments and other sound devices may not produce sound plainly audible at 25 feet from the source, indoors, outdoors or in a vehicle.
City of Holland Code Sec. 19-5(2)
The playing, using, operating of, or permitting to be played, used or operated, a radio, boom box, receiving set, stereo, musical instrument, or other electronic sound device ... so as to produce sound that is plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet from the source of such sound device.
Neither Ottawa County nor the City of Holland regulates aircraft noise. Aircraft operations, including flights at the West Michigan Regional Airport, are governed by federal FAA rules, which preempt local noise ordinances.
Ottawa County does not zone; industrial noise is controlled by city or township zoning plus the local noise code. The City of Holland bars loud, excessive noise from loading, unloading and handling of merchandise under Section 19-5(9).
City of Holland Code Sec. 19-5(9)
The creation of a loud and excessive noise in connection with loading and unloading any vehicle or the opening and destruction of bales, boxes, crates and containers.
The City of Holland's noise code uses a plainly-audible standard, not a general residential decibel limit. The only numeric figure is 50 decibels for approved firing ranges; statewide vehicle decibel limits come from MCL 257.707c.
City of Holland Code Sec. 19-5(11)
The sound from the discharge or firing of a firearm within a firing range approved under Sections 39-17.1 and 39-17.2 shall not exceed 50 decibels, as measured at the property line.
In the City of Holland, public-address systems and sound trucks used outdoors for charitable, community, educational, recreational or religious purposes are allowed only between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., and only with a permit from the Chief of Police.
City of Holland Code Sec. 19-6(e)
The use of public address systems and other sound amplifiers outside of buildings or upon sound trucks between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. for charitable, community, educational, recreational and religious purposes, provided that no such sound amplifiers shall be used unless a permit therefor is issued by the Chief of Police
The City of Holland bars unmuffled vehicle exhaust and unnecessary horn use, and Michigan sets statewide decibel limits for motor vehicles. Section 19-5(7) requires engine exhaust to pass through a muffler that prevents loud or explosive noise.
City of Holland Code Sec. 19-5(7)
The discharge into the open air of the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine or motor vehicle, except through a muffler or other device which effectively prevents loud or explosive noises therefrom.
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