Definitions.

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.62

in effect

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)

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_ART5NOCO_S9.62DEFetched: 11/7/2026