Definitions.
Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 34-2
in effect§ 34-2. - Definitions.
(a) The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(1) Ambient sound pressure level is the all-encompassing noise associated with a given environment, being usually a composite of sounds from many sources, near and far, statistically equivalent to L90; the percentile noise level exceeded 90 percent of the time based on any measurement period of not less than ten minutes or more than 30 minutes.
(2) A-weighted sound level means the sound pressure level in decibels as measured on a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated as dB(A) or dBA.
(3) Construction means any site preparation, assembly, erection, substantial repair, alteration, or similar action, excluding demolition, for or of public or private rights-of-way, structures, utilities, or similar property.
(4) Continuous sound means any sound, essentially without interruption, which exists for a period of six minutes or more.
(5) Decibel (dB) means a unit for measuring the volume of a sound, equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of ratio of the pressure of the sound measured to the reference pressure which is 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons per square meter), denoted as dB.
(6) Demolition means any dismantling, intentional destruction or removal of structures, utilities, public or private right-of-way surfaces, or similar property.
(7) Device means any mechanical object or piece intended to produce, or which produces, the resultant effect objectively sought when operated or used.
(8) Emergency means any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage which demands immediate action.
(9) Emergency vehicle means vehicles of the Fire, Police, and Highway Patrol Departments and legally authorized ambulances and emergency vehicles of State Departments or any political subdivisions thereof and vehicles of public service corporations.
(10) Emergency work means any work performed for the purpose of preventing or alleviating physical trauma or property damage threatened or caused by an emergency.
(11) Engine brake means any vehicle braking mechanism that uses compressed gas within the engine to aid in reducing the speed of the vehicle.
(12) Excessive sound means that sound level which elicits complaints usually independent of each other in the estimate of the sound's being acceptable or unacceptable.
(13) Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the recommended maximum loaded weight of a single motor vehicle. In cases where trailers and tractors are separable, the gross combination weight rating (GCWR), which is the value specified by the manufacturer as the recommended maximum loaded weight of the combination vehicle, shall be used.
(14) Impulsive sound means sound pulses of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay.
(15) L90 percentile level means the time-averaged sound pressure level, A-weighted, that is exceeded in any time measurement period 90 percent of that time.
(16) L10 percentile level means the time-averaged sound pressure level, A-weighted, that is exceeded in any time measurement period ten percent of that time.
(17) L1 percentile level means the time-averaged sound pressure level, A-weighted, that is exceeded in any time measurement period one percent of that time.
(18) Measurement period means that total amount of time used in the measurement of sound levels for a given incident not including time intervals, or their total time, between intervals of actual sound measurement time. Limits are as stated in Subsection (a)(1), not less than ten minutes and not more than 30 minutes.
(19) Motor vehicle means every vehicle self-propelled on land and every vehicle propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails; provided, however, the definition of motor vehicle shall not include implements of husbandry.
(20) Muffler means a device for abating the sound of escaping gases of any internal combustion engine.
(21) Noise means any sound which annoys or disturbs humans or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans.
(22) a.
Noise disturbance means any plainly audible sound which:
1. injures or endangers the safety or health of a human; or
2. annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities; or
3. endangers or injures personal or real property.
b. Plainly audible means where the listener clearly can hear the content of the sound produced by the noise source. Sounds which may be clearly audible include, but are not limited to, musical rhythms, spoken words, vocal sounds, and engine noises.
(23) Powered model vehicle means any self-propelled airborne, waterborne, or landborne plane, vessel, or vehicle, which is not designed to carry persons, including, but not limited to, any model airplane, boat, car, or rocket.
(24) RMS sound pressure means the square root of the time average square of the sound pressure, denoted PRMS.
(25) Sound means temporal and spatial oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity, or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that causes progressively alternate compression and rarefaction of that medium, and which propagates at finite speed to distant points and can evoke an auditory sensation.
(26) Sound level meter means an instrument which includes a microphone, amplifier, RMS detector, integrator or time averager, output meter, and weighting networks used to measure sound pressure levels.
(27) Sound pressure means the instantaneous difference between the actual pressure and the average barometric pressure at a given point in space, as produced by sound energy.
(28) Sound pressure level means 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the RMS sound pressure to the reference pressure of 20 micropascals ((20 X 10 -6 )N/m 2). The sound pressure level is denoted L p or SPL and is expressed in decibels (dB).
(b) All technical terminology used in this chapter which is not defined in this chapter or in Chapter 1 of this Code shall be construed in conformance with the applicable publication of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), or its successor body.
(Code 1980, § 34-2; Ord. No. 19581, § 2, 5-29-91; Ord. No. 24138, § 2, 9-28-10; Ord. No. 26091, § 1, 2-26-19)
Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH34NO_S34-2DEFetched: 10/28/2026