NOISE CONTROL

Grand Rapids City Code tit. IX, ch. 151, art. 5

in effect

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.61 Title and Purpose.

Sec. 9.61. - Title and Purpose. (1) Article 5 of Chapter 151 shall be known as the "Noise Control Ordinance" of the City of Grand Rapids. (2) The City Commission intends to minimize the exposure of citizens to the potential negative physiological and psychological effects of excessive noise while protecting, promoting, and preserving the public health, safety, and welfare. The City Commission intends to control the level of noise in a manner that promotes the use, value, and enjoyment of property, conduct of business, and sleep and repose and reduces unnecessary, unreasonable, and excessive sound in the environment. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.62 Definitions.

Sec. 9.62. - Definitions. As used in this Article: (1) Amplified Sound means sound that is increased by electronic means. (2) ANSI means American National Standards Institute or its successor bodies. All acoustical terminology used in this Article shall be consistent with applicable ANSI/ASA standards. (3) ASA means Acoustical Society of America or its successor bodies. (4) Director means the Environmental Services Director or his or her duly authorized representative. (5) Decibel means a logarithmic unit of measurement which indicates the ratio between two (2) quantities (commonly electrical or sound energy levels, or pressure levels) (see Sound pressure level). (6) Discrete Tone means a sound wave whose instantaneous sound pressure varies essentially as a sinusoidal function of time. (7) Entertainment or Commercial Business includes any person or entity possessing a liquor license or indoor events license or any business providing goods or services to customers for consideration. (8) Essential Services means the erection, construction, alteration, or maintenance by public utilities, municipal Departments or Commissions, or any governmental agencies of street or right-of-way facilities, underground or overhead gas, electrical, steam, water, or other transmission or distribution systems, collection, communication, supply or disposal systems, including poles, conduits, cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, hydrants, towers, electric substations, telephone exchange buildings, gas regulator stations, and other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith, reasonably necessary for the furnishing of utility service by such public utilities, municipal Departments or Commissions, or any governmental agencies, or for the public health, safety, or welfare. Essential services in this Article shall also mean Michigan Department of Transportation work including capital preventive maintenance, light duty rehabilitation, rotomilling and resurfacing, pavement restriping, asset management related repairs, alterations, or improvements, emergency repairs essential to the operational functionality, safety, and maintenance of the transportation network, and such other activities approved in writing by the City Engineer. (9) IEC means International Electrotechnical Commission or its successor bodies. (10) Impulse Noise is characterized by brief excursions of sound pressure which significantly exceed the ambient environmental sound pressure. The duration of a single impulse is usually less than one (1) second. (11) Intermittent Noise means a noise whose sound pressure level equals the ambient environmental level two (2) or more times during the period of observation. The time period during which the level of the noise remains at an essentially constant value different from that of the ambient noise level is on the order of one (1) second or more. (12) ISO means International Organization for Standardization or its successor bodies. (13) Motor Vehicle means "motor vehicle" as defined in the State Motor Vehicle Code, 1949 P.A. 300 (MCL 257.1 et seq.). (14) Noise Disturbance shall mean any sound that unreasonably disturbs a person of normal sensitivities or unreasonably interferes with the peaceful enjoyment of the premises of another because the sound: (a) Can be heard due to the volume or intensity of the sound; and (b) Can be heard distinctly and discretely above the ambient sound of the surrounding area. (15) Octave Band means a frequency band with lower and upper cut-off frequencies having a ratio of 2. The cutoff frequencies of 707 hertz and 1414 hertz define an octave band in common use. (16) Period of Observation means the time interval during which acoustical data are obtained. The period of observation is determined by the characteristics of the noise being measured and should also be at least ten (10) times as long as the response time of the instrumentation. The greater the variance in indicated sound level, the longer must be the observation time for a given expected accuracy of the measurement. (17) Person means every natural person, partnership, association, or corporation which may own, operate, or control those devices or facilities herein described. (18) Property Line means the imaginary line representing the legal limits of real property (including an apartment, condominium, room, or other dwelling unit) owned, leased, or otherwise occupied by a person, business, corporation, or institution. In cases involving sound from an activity on a public street or other public right-of-way, the property line shall be the nearest boundary of the public right-of-way. (19) Repetitive Impulse Noise means more than five (5) impulses per hour. (20) Residential and Residence mean a legal use of property for temporary or permanent dwelling purposes. (21) Residential disturbance means a gathering of one or more persons at a residential property, between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., at which sound emanating from the gathering is frequent, repetitive, or continuous, and is audible to a person of normal hearing located 25 feet or more from the property line. (22) Responsible Person means an owner, member, or partner of an entity that owns or leases entertainment or commercial business premises, a manager or person in charge of entertainment or commercial business premises, or any employee at an entertainment or commercial business if no owner, member, partner, or manager can be identified. (23) SAE means the Society of Automotive Engineers or its successor bodies. (24) Sound means mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium, such as air, and is the objective cause of hearing, and includes all amplified and unamplified sound regardless of its source. (25) Sound Level or Noise Level means, for airborne sound, a weighted sound pressure level, obtained using metering characteristics and A-weighting as specified in the referenced standards. When A-weighing is employed it must be indicated. (26) Sound Pressure Level of a sound, in decibels, is twenty (20) times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of this sound to the reference sound pressure having the value of 2 × 10 -4 dynes per square centimeter. (27) Steady Noise means a noise whose level remains essentially constant. (28) Zoning District refers to the districts established by the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Grand Rapids and found in Chapter 61 of Title V of this Code. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.63 Prohibited Noise.

Sec. 9.63. - Prohibited Noise. No person shall: (1) Make, cause to be made, or allow the making of any sound, by any means, that creates a noise disturbance. Non-commercial public speaking and public assembly activities conducted on any public property or public right-of-way are exempted from operation of this subsection. (2) Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., operate or play any radio, television, electronic audio equipment, drum, musical instrument, or device creating amplified sound such that the sound emanating therefrom can be heard across a property line of property devoted to residential uses. (3) Allow real property under one's possession or control to be used for a residential disturbance. (4) Operate any device creating amplified sound on any public property or public right-of-way that is louder than average conversational level at a distance of one hundred (100) feet or more, measured vertically or horizontally, from the source. (5) Operate any device creating amplified sound within one hundred (100) feet of a health care hospital or clinic. The distance is measured from the property line of the property upon which the health care hospital or clinic is located. (6) Operate or use any pile driver, shovel, hammer, derrick, hoist, tractor, roller, or any other mechanical apparatus in building or construction operations between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., except for work on essential services, within six hundred (600) feet of a residence or hospital. (7) Activate, cause, or suffer to be activated any horn or audible signal device on any motor vehicle of any kind except as a warning of danger or peril as provided in Chapter 181 of Title X of this Code. (8) Operate or allow to be operated any motor of a motor vehicle which weighs more than five (5) tons (ten thousand (10,000) pounds) for a consecutive period of longer than two (2) minutes while such vehicle is in a stationary location on private property located within one hundred fifty (150) feet of property devoted to residential uses. Except the provisions of this subsection shall not apply: (a) When the vehicle or motor is being used for normal productive work. (b) When the vehicle or motor is being used by a public utility, municipal department, commission, or other governmental agency to provide essential services. (c) To buses operated for the transportation of passengers while standing in established bus turnarounds, terminals, or storage yards. (d) To any vehicle standing within a completely enclosed structure. (9) Operate or use, between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., any motorized lawnmower or other lawn, landscaping, or yard maintenance equipment or domestic power tools. (10) Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., yell, cry, call, shout, whistle, or sing upon a public way, or in such proximity to a public way, as to be distinctly and loudly audible upon such public way. (11) Alter, modify, or change any exhaust muffler, intake muffler, or other equipment designed to abate noise on any motor equipment unless such alteration, modification, or change shall reduce the noise emitted by such equipment. Nothing in this Section shall be interpreted to prohibit the replacement of worn noise abatement equipment certified as meeting or exceeding specifications of the manufacturer's original equipment. (12) Own any dog which by loud or frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling, shall cause annoyance to the people in the neighborhood. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 2023-48, § 1, 10-10-23; Ord. No. 2026-01, § 1, 1-13-26)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.63.1 Per Se Violations.

Sec. 9.63.1. - Per Se Violations. Unless otherwise exempted by this Article, making, causing to be made, or allowing to be made any of the sounds identified in Section 9.63 is deemed unreasonable and constitutes a prohibited noise. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.64 Prohibited Entertainment or Commercial Sound.

Sec. 9.64. - Prohibited Entertainment or Commercial Sound. (1) Acknowledging the importance of entertainment and commercial businesses in the City of Grand Rapids, the following provisions are intended to balance this vital economic necessity with residential health and quality of life concerns. (2) For purposes of this Section: (a) Nighttime Hours are that time between 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7:00 a.m. of each subsequent day, and 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. (b) Sound includes all amplified and unamplified sound coming from an entertainment or commercial business regardless of source. It shall include, but not be limited to, human voices of guests and employees, instrumental and vocal music, and electronic sounds. (3) No entertainment or commercial business shall emit or permit the emission of sound that is frequent, repetitive, or continuous from the premises of the establishment, including any outdoor area which is part of or under the control of the establishment, and is clearly audible to a person of normal hearing located one hundred (100) feet or more from the property line during nighttime hours. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.65 Sound Pressure Limitations.

Sec. 9.65. - Sound Pressure Limitations. (1) In non-Special Land Use SD-IT Industrial-Transportation Districts, at no point on the boundary of a Residential or Commercial Zone District shall the sound pressure level of any individual operation or plant, or the combined operations of any person, firm, or corporation, exceed the decibel levels in the designated octave bands shown below for the zoning districts indicated as measured using test equipment per ANSI/ASA Standards S1.1, S1.4, S1.11, and S1.15, and SAE J-184, or the latest revisions thereof, and with reference to Section 9.66.1 of this Article. Octave Band Center Frequency (Hz) | Maximum Sound Pressure Levels (dB) Along District Boundaries (Daytime, Steady Noise) Residential Commercial 31.5 | 72 | 79 63 | 71 | 78 125 | 65 | 72 250 | 57 | 64 500 | 51 | 58 1000 | 45 | 52 2000 | 39 | 46 4000 | 34 | 41 8000 | 32 | 39 Maximum repetitive impulse noise sound pressure levels to be 10 (dB) lower than the values shown for steady noise. For monitoring purposes, the A scale levels (slow response) of 55 dB(A) and 62 dB(A), respectively, for Residential or Commercial Zone Districts may be used. Any noise level exceeding these values constitute a violation of this subsection of the Article. Where noise levels below the abovementioned 55 dB(A) and 62 dB(A) are measured, the octave band test is to be applied to determine compliance with this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, maximum nighttime sound pressure levels (between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.) are to be 7 (dB) lower than the values shown for daytime steady noise for each octave band center frequency. (2) For Special Land Uses within SD-IT Industrial-Transportation Districts, at no point either on the boundary of a Residential or Commercial Zone District, or at one hundred twenty-five (125) feet from the nearest property line of a plant or operation, whichever distance is greater, shall the sound pressure level of any individual operation or plant, or the combined operations of any person, firm, or corporation, exceed the decibel levels in the designated octave bands shown below for the zoning districts indicated, as measured using test equipment per ANSI/ASA Standards S1.1, S1.4, S1.11, and S1.15, and SAE J-184, or the latest revisions thereof, and with reference to Section 9.66.1 of this Article. Octave Band Center Frequency (Hz) | Maximum Sound Pressure Levels (dB) Along District Boundaries (Daytime, Steady Noise) Residential Commercial 31.5 | 75 | 80 63 | 74 | 79 125 | 69 | 74 250 | 64 | 69 500 | 58 | 63 1000 | 52 | 57 2000 | 47 | 52 4000 | 43 | 48 8000 | 40 | 45 Maximum repetitive impulse noise sound pressure levels to be 10 (db) lower than the values shown for steady noise. For monitoring purposes the A scale levels (slow response) of 61 dB(A) and 66 dB(A), respectively, for Residential and Commercial Zone Districts may be used. Any noise levels exceeding these values constitute a violation of this subsection of the Article. Where noise levels below the abovementioned 61 dB(A) and 66 dB(A) values are measured, the octave band test is to be applied to determine compliance with this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, maximum nighttime sound pressure levels (between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.) are to be 7 (dB) lower than the values shown for daytime steady noise for each octave band center frequency. (3) In Commercial Zone Districts, all activities involving the production, processing, cleaning, servicing, testing, repair of materials, goods or products, or any property use shall conform with the performance standards stated in subsection (1), above, provided that performance standards shall in every case be applied at the boundaries of the lot on which any such activities take place. (4) In Residential Zone Districts, any property use shall conform with the performance standards stated in subsection (1) above, for Residential Zone District boundaries, provided that performance standards shall in every case be applied at the boundaries of the lot on which such use is established. (5) The maximum sound pressure levels established in subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) to be applied to the boundaries of a lot shall not apply to construction sites. Construction site noise level shall be regulated by section 9.63(5) above. (6) In all instances in which a Special Land Use within an SD-IT Industrial-Transportation District does not adjoin a Residential or Commercial Zone District, the performance standards governing noise for the non-Special Land Use SD-IT Industrial-Transportation Districts shall apply at the nearest Residential or Commercial Zone District boundary line, as these districts are defined and designated under the provisions of the Grand Rapids Zoning Ordinance. (7) Any property uses established in an Industrial-Transportation or Commercial Zone District shall be so operated as to comply with the following performance standards governing vibrations: (a) In a Special Land Use within an SD-IT Industrial-Transportation District, any property use creating intense or shaking vibrations such as are created by drop forges or heavy hydraulic surges shall be set back at least three hundred (300) feet from the zoning district line of any Residential or Commercial Zone District and at least one hundred fifty (150) feet from the zoning district line of any non-Special Land Use SD-IT Industrial-Transportation District unless such operation is controlled in such manner as to prevent such transmission beyond the zoning district line of earth shaking vibrations perceptible without the aid of instruments. (b) In a non-Special Land Use SD-IT Industrial-Transportation District or Commercial Zone District, any property use creating earth-shaking vibrations such as are created by drop forges or hydraulic surges shall be controlled in such manner as to prevent transmission beyond the lot lines of earth-shaking vibrations perceptible without the aid of instruments. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.66 Exceptions.

Sec. 9.66. - Exceptions. The following uses and activities are not prohibited noises: (1) Use of motorized lawn mowers and other lawn, landscaping, and yard maintenance equipment or domestic power tools, provided such equipment is used between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (2) Residential use of snow blowers and snow removal from commercial or industrial properties by any internal combustion device. (3) Sounds resulting from any authorized emergency vehicle. (4) Sounds produced at organized sporting events between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (5) Sounds produced at a special event conducted under a permit issued under this Code, provided the sound complies with the terms of the permit. (6) Sounds and vibrations produced at the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority Amphitheater between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. except as provided in Subsection (7). (7) Sounds and vibrations produced at the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority Amphitheater after 11:00 p.m. in the case of performance delays occasioned by unforeseeable, exigent circumstances (including, but not limited to, inclement weather that prevents the safe operations the Amphitheater) with the prior written approval of the City Manager or City Manager's designee. The City Manager shall define the form and content of the request for extended performance hours under this Subsection (7). (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 2023-28, § 1, 7-25-23)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.66.1 Test Equipment Standards.

Sec. 9.66.1. - Test Equipment Standards. Test equipment standards applicable to tests and measurements described and required herein are: ANSI/ASA S1.1 | Acoustic Terminology (ISO/TR 25417:2007) (IEC 60050-801:1994) ANSI/ASA S1.4 | Sound Level Meters (IEC-61672-1, 2, & 3:2013) ANSI/ASA S1.11 | Octave-band and Fractional-octave-band Filters (IEC 61260-1:2014, 61260-2, 61260-3:2016) ANSI/ASA S1.15 | Laboratory Standard Microphones or the latest revisions thereof, and such other and further standards as may be propounded in the Code of Recommended Practices of the Director. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.67 Adjustment of Standards.

Sec. 9.67. - Adjustment of Standards. It is the intent of the City of Grand Rapids to periodically reevaluate the future noise level limits and other standards contained in this noise control ordinance, and, if appropriate, to adjust such standards either upward or downward to reflect future advances in technology or the state of the art. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.68 Regulations.

Sec. 9.68. - Regulations. (1) The City Manager may establish regulations for the implementation or enforcement of Article 5, Chapter 151, of Title IX of the Code of the City of Grand Rapids. Any regulation promulgated under this Section shall pertain only to the means, manner, or method of implementation or enforcement of the Article and shall not change, alter, or amend the requirements of the Article. The regulations promulgated hereunder, or amendments or changes thereof, shall become effective upon review and approval by the City Commission. (2) Violation of the regulations promulgated under this Article shall be punished as provided for in Section 1.13 of this Code. (3) Copies of the Regulations promulgated under this Section shall be kept on file at the Office of the City Clerk and at the Office of the Director. These regulations shall be available for public inspection and copying during normal business hours. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.69 Variances.

Sec. 9.69. - Variances. (1) The provisions of this Article shall not apply to those events, activities, or locations which have been granted a variance, as hereinafter set out, by the City Commission. (2) The City Commission shall have the authority to grant variances subject to the conditions and under the circumstances set out in this Section. These variances, to be known and entitled as Noise Variances, shall exclude the event, activity or location for which the permit is issued from the operation and requirements of this Article, subject to the provisions of this Section. (3) Any person seeking a variance pursuant to this Section shall file an application with the City Clerk on a form prescribed by the City Manager. The application shall contain, in addition to such information as shall be required by the City Manager, information demonstrating that bringing the source of sound for which the variance is sought or the activity involved into compliance with this Article, would cause an unreasonable hardship for the applicant, the community or for other persons. Upon receiving such an application, the Clerk shall submit it to the City Manager. Upon receipt of an application, the City Manager shall cause such investigation as he or she deems necessary to be made concerning the application. This investigation may include, but need not be limited to, consulting with such City Departments as he or she may deem necessary or desirable. The City Manager, subject to the provisions of subsection (4) of this Section may, in his or her discretion, cause a public hearing to be held on any application for a Noise Variance. If no public hearing is held, the City Manager, subject to the provisions of subsection (4) of this Section, shall allow interested parties to submit written comments concerning an application for a Noise Variance. The applicant shall, prior to the investigation of the application by the City Manager, cause a public notice of said application for a Noise Variance to be published at least twice in a daily newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Grand Rapids, in a form prescribed by the City Manager. (4) The City Manager, in addition to such other investigation as he or she may deem necessary: (a) Shall require applicant to show that the notice requirements herein provided for have been met; (b) Shall permit applicant to offer such evidence as it desires to establish applicant's position that a variance should be granted; (c) Shall permit those opposing applicant's request for a variance to offer evidence in opposition to the granting of a variance; (d) May, in his or her discretion, refuse to receive or hear evidence that is merely cumulative, and may reasonably limit the time allowed to present evidence by those supporting and those opposing the application. (5) The City Manager shall consider all evidence received pursuant to this Section and based upon this evidence and the results of his or her investigation, shall make a recommendation to the City Commission as to whether a Noise Variance should be granted. The City Manager shall make his or her recommendation based upon the factors set out in subsection (6), and shall state the reasons for his or her recommendation in writing. The application and the recommendation of the City Manager shall be placed on the agenda of the City Commission and shall be considered in due course according to the Rules of the City Commission. In deciding whether to grant the Noise Variance, the City Commission shall consider the factors set out in subsection (6) of this Section. The City Commission shall, by resolution, grant or deny the Variance. If a resolution approving a Noise Variance is passed, the City Clerk shall issue a Noise Variance subject to the terms of this Section. (6) The following factors shall be considered in determining whether to grant the variance: (a) The balance of the hardship to the applicant, the community and other persons in not granting the variance against the adverse impact on the health, safety and welfare of persons adversely affected and any other effects of the granting of the variance. (b) The number, if any, of previous variances granted to the applicant, or for the same location or activity. (c) The nearness of any residence or residences, or any other use which would be adversely affected by noise exceeding the limits prescribed by this Article. (d) The sound level of the sound to be generated by the event or activity. (e) Whether the type of noise to be produced by the event is usual or unusual for the location or area for which the variance is requested. (f) The density of population of the area in which the event or activity is to take place. (g) The time of day or night which the activity or event will take place. (h) The nature of the sound to be produced, including but not limited to whether the sound will be steady, intermittent or of a repetitive impulse nature. (7) Neither the City Manager nor the City Commission shall consider the communicative content of the activity or event in determining whether to grant or deny a variance. The rights of all interested persons to due process of law and equal protection of law shall not be denied. (8) Variances shall only be granted subject to the following conditions: (a) That the event or activity for which the permit is sought shall be held in a public place. (b) That the event or activity for which the permit is sought shall be open to the public. There shall be no discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, or sex. (c) Variances issued shall be subject to such reasonable conditions as the City Commission shall require, including, but not limited to, conditions: (i) Limiting the days of the week for which the variance is valid. (ii) Limiting the number of days for which the variance is valid. (iii) Limiting the hours of the day, or days, for which the variance is valid. Such conditions shall be noted on the variance issued to the applicant and noncompliance with any condition of the variance shall terminate the variance and subject the applicant, event or activity to the provisions of this Article. The variance shall not be valid unless all conditions thereof are agreed to by the applicant, or its duly authorized officer or agent, in writing. (9) Any variance issued pursuant to this Section shall be kept at the site of the event or activity for which the variance was obtained. The variance shall be displayed, on request, to any law enforcement officer, Environmental Services Department employee or park patrol officer. The requirements of this subsection are hereby made express conditions of the granting of the variance and failure to comply with these conditions shall cause the variance to terminate as provided for in subsection (8). (10) The City Commission, in granting or denying a variance pursuant to this Section, shall be an administrative body acting in a quasi-judicial capacity, subject to review as provided in Article 6, Section 28, of the Michigan Constitution of 1963. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.70 Sound Systems in Motor Vehicles.

Sec. 9.70. - Sound Systems in Motor Vehicles. No person operating or in control of a stopped or moving motor vehicle shall operate or permit the operation of a sound system in the vehicle so as to produce sound that is clearly audible fifty (50) feet from the vehicle between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., or clearly audible twenty-five (25) feet from the vehicle between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.; provided, however, this section shall not apply to the sound system of a police, fire, or other public service motor vehicle while the public service vehicle is being used in the performance of public service work. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.70.1 Penalties.

Sec. 9.70.1. - Penalties. (1) A violation of this Article shall be a municipal civil infraction, punishable by a fine as established in Chapter 170 of this Code. (2) A person who violates this Article may be warned to cease and desist in lieu of other enforcement action. A person receiving a warning shall be advised to abate and have a reasonable amount of time to comply with the warning. If the warning is heeded and the sound no longer constitutes a prohibited noise, then no other enforcement action shall be taken. (3) Only one warning shall be given to any entertainment or commercial business location in a six-month period for a violation of Section 9.64. The owner(s) of the entertainment or commercial business shall be responsible to make all persons who may be deemed a responsible person aware of the warning. A warning shall be considered effective against all persons who are then or may during such six-month period be deemed a responsible person. (4) The owner or partner of an entertainment or commercial business that violates Section 9.64 shall be jointly and severally liable for the violation with the entertainment or commercial business. (5) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a violation of Section 9.64 or 9.65 of this Article by any person is deemed a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) and a maximum of ninety (90) days in jail, or both, if that person violated Section 9.64 or 9.65 of this Article at any time within the prior six (6) months. (6) Each occurrence of a violation, or in the case of continuous violations, each day a violation occurs or continues, constitutes a separate infraction, and may be punished separately. (Ord. No. 2019-71, § 2, 11-19-19; Ord. No. 2026-01, § 2, 1-13-26)

Source: City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mi/grand_rapids/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIOLRE_CH151NU_ART5NOCOFetched: 11/7/2026