Connecticut General Statutes 22a-73 – Municipal noise regulation programs; ordinances subject to commissioner’s approval
(a) To carry out and effectuate the purposes and policies of this chapter it is the public policy of the state to encourage municipal participation by means of regulation of activities causing noise pollution within the territorial limits of the various municipalities. To that end, any municipality may develop and establish a comprehensive program of noise regulation. Such program may include a study of the noise problems resulting from uses and activities within its jurisdiction and its development and adoption of a noise control ordinance.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 22a-73
- Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
- Commissioner: means the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or his designated agent as defined in subsection (a) of section 22a-2. See Connecticut General Statutes 22a-68
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Noise: means the intensity, frequency, duration and character of sounds from a source or number of sources, and includes vibrations of subaudible or superaudible frequency. See Connecticut General Statutes 22a-68
- Ordinance: means an enactment under the provisions of section 7-157. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
(b) Any municipality may adopt, amend and enforce a noise control ordinance which may include the following: (1) Noise levels which will not be exceeded in specified zones or other designated areas; (2) designation of a noise control officer and the designation of an existing board or commission, or the establishment of a new board or commission to direct such program; (3) implementation procedures of such program and the relation of such program to other plans within the jurisdiction of the municipality; (4) procedures for assuring compliance with state and federal noise regulations; (5) noise level restrictions applicable to construction activities, including limitation on on-site hours of operation.
(c) Any such municipal noise control ordinance shall be at least as stringent as any state noise control plan, including ambient noise standards, adopted pursuant to section 22a-69 or any standards or regulations adopted by the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the Noise Control Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-574) or any amendment thereto. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, any municipality may adopt more stringent noise standards than those adopted by the commissioner.