Do you have a neighborhood noise problem? Here’s how to deal with noise issues:
The Seattle Police Department receives hundreds of noise complaints a year. Seattle is a large city with many diverse neighborhoods, both residential and commercial, so a certain level of tolerance is expected. Only when the noise meets the threshold outlined in the law can police intervene. If you are experiencing noise problems alone, your call may be prioritized on the low end of the dispatch scale, and this can be frustrating. It might be more productive if you first try contacting the people responsible for the noise. Often times, they are not aware of the discomfort they are causing. If you feel uneasy about direct contact, or the person has been uncooperative or is “under the influence,” you can call 911 for assistance.
Here are laws on noise, written in Seattle Municipal Code:
Residential Disturbance: Seattle Municipal Code 25.08.505: It is unlawful for any person to knowingly allow real property under one’s possession or control to be used for a residential disturbance, as defined in Seattle Municipal Code Section 25.08.225 “Residential disturbance” means a gathering of more than one (1) person at a residential property located in a single family or multifamily zone, as defined SMC Section 23.84.048 between the hours of 10:00 P.M., (11:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday nights) and 7:00 A.M., at which noise associated with the gathering is frequent, repetitive or continuous and is audible to a person of normal hearing at a distance of 75 feet or more from the property.
Unreasonable Noise: Seattle Municipal Code 25.08.500: It is unlawful to knowingly cause, make or allow unreasonable noise to emanate from property under ones control, which disturbs another, and to refuse or intentionally fail to cease the unreasonable noise when ordered to do so by a police officer. “Unreasonable noise” includes loud, raucous, frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds made by: animals; horns or sirens other than emergency equipment, motor vehicles being repaired, tested, etc: musical instruments or sound amplifiers; human voices, amplified, between the hours of 10:00 P.M. & 7:00 A.M.
Vehicle Noise: Seattle Municipal Code 25.08.515: Sound from motor vehicle sound system clearly heard at a distance of 75 feet from where it is originating. 75 feet is comparable to the length of a standard swimming pool.
Noise in Parks and Public Places: It is unlawful for a person to allow sound to be generated from portable audio equipment such as a “boom box” or from an automobile sound system if it can clearly be heard at a distance of 75 feet from the source of the sound, while in a park, residential or commercial zone, or within close proximity to a school or bus.
Construction Noise: Construction times allowed by the city of Seattle’s noise ordinance are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Send complaints by email to DPD at:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/aboutus/whoweare/noiseenforcement/default.htm
As summer approaches, I dread the increase of people playing basketball in the park on 5th ave and 112th at every hour of the night. Countless calls to the police have been made due to someone balling away at midnight, 1, 2, even 3 or 4 in the morning. The sound of the ball hitting the court or bouncing off the backboard reverberates all over the area and can be heard from any number of apartments or houses nearby at amplified volume. I hope to move before the skate park portion opens, but since it looks like that won’t be down until 2023, I may have some time.
Skatepark is scheduled to open in August. I’m rather shocked you haven’t noticed the work being done. Especially since you are sensitive to noise.
As far as construction noise. Many projects, especially those in residential areas must stop far before 10. Usually more like 5pm or maybe 6pm. One can look up conditions placed on any project to see.
The project I am not holding my breath on is the Northgate Apartments, which have talked of demo and expansion for the past 30 years. Then of course we have light rail, that seems to have its own rules.
Something new to consider. If you live near Tarkington Square they have applied to subdivide so duck and cover baby. They are movers and shakers. http://web1.seattle.gov/DPD/permitstatus/project.aspx?id=3016754
Last thing., KinderCare is being sold, You guessed it, they want to cram 4 houses and a bunch of apartments on that spilt zoned parcel.
So, in the scheme of things a little b-ball isn’t so bad,huh?
http://www.redfin.com/WA/Seattle/11395-5th-Ave-NE-98125/home/51584224
I’m aware of the skate park and the impending late night sounds of skaters, but the difference between everything you mention and the playing of basketball is the time. I don’t care if someone plays basketball up until the park is designated as closed. It’s the midnight to 5am games that are bothersome. Last I checked, construction (as you note as well) doesn’t run throughout the night.
Park hours are 4am – 11:30pm. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=4456
You might approach the problem as folks in the park at hours when it is closed. I didn’t mean to be contentious but rather point out the skatepark will be open earlier than you thought. Personally I am very excited to welcome the skate board community into the neighborhood. I think it will be a very positive thing.