Noisy days have come to an end in Grays Harbor County.
The county commissioners on Monday approved changes to county code that adopts the same standards held in the Washington Administrative Code.
Within state code, permissible levels change depending on the source of the noise and the neighboring property that hears it. For example, a residential property would be allowed different levels of permissible noise if it is beside an industrial property compared to if it neighbors another residential property.
According to Washington Administrative Code 173-60, which is now used by the county, a residential noise source would be limited to 55 dBA if it is impacting another residential area. (For comparison, a library is about 30 dBA and a quiet suburb is about 50 dBA.)
Noises exceeding those limits are allowed so long as they’re kept short. Any area can exceed its noise limit by as many as five dBA for a total of 15 minutes in any one-hour period; 10 dBA for a total of five minutes in any one-hour period; 15 dBA for a total of one minute and 30 seconds in any one-hour period.
Exemptions exist in the same code. Those exemptions include temporary projects and maintenance or repair of homes and grounds.
A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $1,000, or jail time not to exceed 90 days, or both.
The changes are effective immediately.
Both commissioners Wes Cormier and Randy Ross voted for the changes. Commissioner Vickie Raines was absent and excused by the other commissioners.
“I think it’s a property right issue,” Cormier said. “There’s a standard threshold that people have a right to enjoy their property, and whether it’s light, sound or odor, they have a right to enjoy their property and not to be bothered to some level, and this is just a standard.”
Ross noted that the issue was brought to the commissioners by the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office, and he hoped the change would give the Sheriff’s Office a stronger ability to enforce noise violations.
“This puts some meat back in the law,” Ross said. “If you have a residential property next to an industrial property, then you’ve got an issue, and these types of laws help sort those things out.”
During a public hearing for the changes, four residents in the Val Vista area of rural Montesano, spoke in favor of the changes.
Recently, a business near their homes began using a piece of equipment that is creating a ongoing noise problem during business hours (and some Saturdays), the residents said.
Linda Jewchyn implored the commissioners to approve the changes.
“It’s (the noisy equipment) affecting our lifestyle and how comfortable it is to even be outside” Jewchyn said. “This would affect a lot of people, not just us, as new homes are built in the area.”
Her husband, Ron Jewchyn, agreed, adding that the residents in that neighborhood are not opposed to business and industry.
“I’m not against him having a viable business — that’s not my agenda either,” Ron Jewchyn said. “I’d like to see the noise dealt with.”
Ron Jewchyn asked if the commissioners could reconsider to get the noise limit even lower. The commissioners did not immediately respond to that comment.
