Understanding Noise Ordinances in Quincy
Imagine starting your day on your porch, sipping a cup of coffee as the gentle breeze rustles the leaves, creating a peaceful 20 decibels of sound. In the distance, the cheerful calls of birds add to the ambiance, reaching around 44 decibels. This serene morning is suddenly disrupted by the harsh noise of a leaf blower, which can reach between 65 and 75 decibels from 50 feet away.
In Quincy, what constitutes a noise ordinance violation depends on several factors, including the time of day, location, and the actual volume of the sound. Here’s a detailed look at the city’s rules and how they encourage good neighborly behavior.
Noise Levels and Regulations
In nonresidential areas of Quincy, noise levels are allowed up to 77 decibels during the day and 72 decibels at night. For residential areas, the limits are slightly lower: 75 decibels during the day and 65 decibels at night. To put this into perspective, 77 decibels is comparable to the sound of a car traveling at 65 mph from 25 feet away.
Quincy does not impose additional restrictions on lawncare equipment beyond state regulations. This means that residential landscape tools such as lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and hedge trimmers can be used during specified hours if they are maintained according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. These hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Exemptions and Special Cases
The city’s code also includes exemptions for certain noise sources. These include routine residential living activities, emergency operations like police or EMS sirens, boats, and non-electronically-amplified sounds from public gatherings such as sporting events, parades, or carnivals, which are permitted between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Construction noises are governed by different rules. They are allowed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, with a limit of 75 decibels if no noise-suppression plan has been approved. If a plan is in place, the limit increases to 85 decibels.
Filing a Noise Complaint
To determine if a noise violates city code, it must be measured using a recording device or high-precision instrument on the complainant’s property. A complaint cannot be enforced if the complainant is not present during the alleged violation.
Noise complaints can be filed with the Quincy Police Department or through the Constituent Services portal on the city’s website, www.quincyma.gov/. The city has designated “noise-sensitive areas,” which can be identified by a two-thirds vote of the city council. Examples include areas around Marina Bay, land northwest of Nickerson Beach, and the area northeast of Airport Road.
In these noise-sensitive areas, specific noise limits apply. During the day, noise cannot exceed 65 decibels from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., 60 decibels from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and 62 decibels from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Non-residential parts of these areas have slightly higher limits: 67 decibels during the day, 64 decibels in the evening, and 62 decibels at night.
Each day a noise violation occurs is considered a separate offense, with potential fines of $100 per day.
Comparing Quincy to Other Massachusetts Communities
Other Massachusetts communities have stricter noise regulations. For example:
- Cambridgeallows personal or commercial lawncare equipment to be used from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., but leaf blowing is restricted to specific periods and days.
- Newtonrequires commercial leaf blower operators to register annually and imposes limits on the types of machines and operating times.
These variations highlight the importance of understanding local ordinances when managing noise levels in residential areas.
