Lowell Code Section 204-3 sets a full district-by-time dBA table (residential 40-50 dB(A), industrial up to 70 dB(A) daytime), measured at the property boundary. Section 204-3F establishes 'zones of quiet' within 300 feet of every hospital, school or church, plus temporary illness quiet zones, where loud or unusual noise from vehicles is barred.
Lowell's metered standard lives in Section 204-3. It is unlawful to exceed the listed limit 'by five decibels or more' at any point on a property's real-property boundary. The table runs from 40 dB(A) (residential, 10 p.m.-7 a.m.) up to 70 dB(A) (heavy industry / office park, daytime). Where ambient noise from non-identifiable sources is higher than the table, the ceiling becomes five decibels above ambient; where two districts share a boundary, the limit is the arithmetic mean of the two. Section 204-3F (Zones of quiet) declares 'all of the territory within 300 feet of the premises of each hospital, school, or church in this City' a zone of quiet, marked with 'Quiet Zone' signs by the Commissioner of Public Works; the Commissioner may also establish a temporary 'Illness Quiet Zone' within 300 feet of a seriously ill person's building. Within any posted zone of quiet, 'no person operating a vehicle ... shall sound a horn or other warning device on the vehicle or make any loud or unusual noise in such a zone except in an emergency.' Noise-sensitive areas (within 300 feet of a school, church, hospital, nursing home or funeral home) are defined in Section 204-2.
First violation: written warning, cease within 10 minutes. Second/subsequent: $100 per offense by noncriminal disposition under MGL c. 40, Section 21D; each day a separate violation (Section 204-6). Measurement is by an approved sound-level meter operated by Police or Health.
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