New York, NY – New Noise Code to Take Effect

New York, NY – Officials say that the city is about to get a little quieter, when new regulations governing jackhammers, barking dogs, barroom music and other auditory menaces take effect July 1. The new regulations represent the first revisions in the city's noise code in more than three decades.

Noise-related calls to the city's hot line have been increasing steadily the past few years and are the top complaint. There were 38,660 noise complaints in 2005, and 41,856 in 2006. The main gripes during the day were construction. Barking dogs and loud air conditioners topped the list in later hours.
This past Saturday and Sunday, the hot line received 4,942 calls about noise a weekend record.

The EPA says people should not be consistently exposed to more than 75 decibels. Heavy city traffic is regularly 85, an ambulance siren is 120, and the subway averages in the 90s. [abc]