Kent decibel limits follow WAC 173-60 and KCC 8.05 using EDNA zones. Residential receiving limit is 55 dBA day and 45 dBA night. Commercial sources are capped at 57 or 47 dBA into residential zones.
Kent City Code 8.05 adopts the WAC 173-60 matrix of maximum permissible sound levels by Environmental Designation for Noise Abatement (EDNA). Class A (residential) receiving property: 55 dBA day from residential sources, 60 dBA from commercial, 70 dBA from industrial, with a 10 dBA reduction from 10 PM to 7 AM down to 45, 50, and 60 dBA respectively. Wait, corrected: night limits are 45, 47, and 50 dBA. Class B (commercial) receiving: 57 day, 60 day from commercial, 65 day from industrial. Class C (industrial): 60 day residential source, 65 day commercial, 70 day industrial. Short-duration exceedances allowed: +5 dBA for 15 minutes, +10 dBA for 5 minutes, +15 dBA for 1.5 minutes per hour. Between 10 PM and 7 AM the allowances are reduced. Sound level measurements are taken at the property line of the receiving property using a Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meter on A-weighting, slow response.
Exceeding the dBA matrix is a civil infraction under KCC 8.05. Measurements must follow WAC 173-58 sound level meter procedures for enforcement.
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