Industrial sources in Flint face four-tier dBA caps under Chapter 31 Article II: Section 31-73 impulsive (100 dBA day / 90 night), Section 31-74 intermittent (80 / 55), Section 31-75 continuous (70 / 65), Section 31-76 perpetual (60 / 55). Limits are measured at the RECEIVING property boundary, so an industrial source adjacent to residential is effectively held to the residential cap.
Flint's industrial-noise framework is among the more aggressive in Michigan because of how Article II measures violations. Section 31-71 defines RECEIVING LAND USE as the use (commercial, industrial, or residential) of the land on or at which a noise is received. Each of Sections 31-73 through 31-76 prohibits operating a noise source 'when measured at or within the real property boundary line of the receiving land use.' Practical effect: an industrial source pushing 78 dBA at its own boundary (within the 80 dBA intermittent industrial cap) but landing 72 dBA at an adjacent residential receiving boundary violates the 70 dBA residential intermittent cap in Section 31-74. The four-tier classification (impulsive Section 31-73, intermittent Section 31-74, continuous Section 31-75, perpetual Section 31-76) depends on the noise character defined in Section 31-71: impulsive (under 10 seconds), intermittent (on/off pattern over 5+ minutes), continuous (varies under 5 dBA over 5 minutes), perpetual (varies under 3 dBA over 30 minutes). Flint historically hosted major GM Buick City and Chevrolet Flint Truck operations; current industrial sites remain subject to common-law nuisance in Genesee County Circuit Court independent of Article II.
Section 31-78(a) penalty: up to $1,500 fine, 90 days jail, or both, per violation. Section 31-78(b) $25 first-offense waiver available at District Court Clerk. Each day of continued violation is separately chargeable - the practical hook against 24-hour industrial operations. Common-law nuisance damages and injunctive relief in Genesee County Circuit Court remain independently available.
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See how Flint's industrial noise rules stack up against other locations.
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