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A. Applications. Any person(s) or organization(s) wishing to use amplified sound outdoors for an event must obtain a permit for the amplified sound from the EHD. In evaluating the application, the EHD shall consider the following factors in addition to additional criteria the EHD may adopt:

Factors:

1. Time and duration (if any) of event.

2. Location or route of event.

3. Anticipated number of people in attendance.

4. Number of people to be affected by the event.

5. Magnitude of noise.

6. Provisions of the organization to deal with complaints received.

7. Provisions of the organization for admitting people to the event.

8. Provisions of the organization for crowd control, disabled access, pedestrian access, and vehicle access.

9. Past compliance and noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter and previous permits granted to the organization.

10. That on private property there have been no more than seven permits for outdoor or indoor amplified sound granted for the location applied for within that calendar year or any such permit granted for an event taking place at the location within 30 days of the requested date.

11. That on public property no more than one permit be issued for the location in any one day.

This application will be due to the EHD no less than 30 days before the intended date of the event, unless the proposed event is in response to an occurrence whose timing did not reasonably allow the applicant to file a timely application and the imposition of this time limitation would place an unreasonable restriction on free speech. An application must be on a form provided by the City and shall include the names, addresses, phone numbers, and photo identification of all persons who are or will be responsible for the conduct of the event. The application will be denied if the information contained in the application, including supplemental information, if any, is found to be false in any material respect, the applicant fails to meet the City requirements for a permit, or Factors 10 or 11 above apply.

B. Contents of Permits and Conditions. An amplified sound permit may impose reasonable time, place, and manner conditions such that the proposed sound will not pose a traffic or safety hazard, interfere with fire or police protection services, or unreasonably interfere with pedestrian or vehicular use of the public right-of-way. All amplified sound permits shall be subject to the following conditions:

1. The only amplified sounds permitted shall be either music or human speech, or both;

2. Sound amplification equipment on private property shall not be utilized in any location for a period in excess of 4 hours in any 24-hour period;

3. Sound amplifying equipment when associated with an approved event permit shall be used upon public property for the duration of the event and only between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., except as may be permitted pursuant to other provisions of this code, such as Section 13.40.080, and upon private property only between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.;

4. Speakers for outdoor sound amplification equipment shall be directed, to the extent feasible toward open or unoccupied space and away from residentially occupied property;

5. 

(a) The sound emanating from sound amplifying equipment on private property shall not exceed 15 dBA above the ambient noise level measured at the exterior of any dwelling unit located on any residential property; and in no case to exceed 65 dBA at the exterior of any such building;

(b) On public property such sound may not exceed 15 dBA above the ambient noise level measured at any point 50 feet from the sound amplifying equipment. The EHD may allow higher limits upon a showing that an expected audience cannot be effectively communicated to within the above limits;

6. In any event, the volume of sound shall be so controlled that it will not be unreasonably loud, raucous, jarring, disturbing or a nuisance to reasonable persons of normal sensitiveness within the area of audibility;

7. Such other terms as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter;

8. The organization must provide the EHD with the names of two people who will be in attendance at all times and have the authority to deal with a NCO or the police in response to complaints and/or violations;

9. The permittee shall carry the permit during the proposed event and show it, upon demand, to any City employee authorized to enforce this chapter;

10. All sound equipment must be kept in locations that comply with the location and size requirements of Section 14.48.170.

C. The EHD may require the applicant to distribute flyers throughout the surrounding area in advance of the proposed event, notifying the affected residents and business people of the proposed event.

D. A NCO may summarily terminate the permit after a warning, if the activity for which the permit is issued results in violations of any applicable laws or regulations.

E. A violation of any permit conditions is a violation of this chapter.

F. The EHD may issue additional regulations to further the purposes of this section. (Ord. 7122-NS § 10, 2009: Ord. 5500-NS § 1 (part), 1982)