§ 10.5-57. Exemptions.

The provisions of this division, except for those specific prohibitions set forth in section 10.5-55 of this division, shall not apply to the following sounds:

(a)

The unamplified human voice;

(b)

Railway locomotives or cars;

(c)

Household or farming tools, appliances, and equipment meeting manufacturer's specifications as to sound, if applicable;

(d)

Aircraft and airport activity conducted in accordance with federal laws and regulations;

(e)

Maintenance of public service facilities;

(f)

Law enforcement activities, including training;

(g)

Licensed game hunting activities;

(h)

Emergency signals during emergencies;

(i)

Emergency testing;

(j)

Refuse collection and mosquito fogging;

(k)

Operation of any regulated or publicly owned utility;

(l)

Construction activities exempt from, or for which Polk County has issued a development permit; provided such activity occurs between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.;

(m)

Organized athletic contests provided such activity occurs between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.;

(n)

Sounds relating to and originating within any nonresidential land use districts under the Polk County Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code (except for those sounds specifically prohibited in section 10.5-55 of this division);

(o)

Sounds relating to and originating from legal, pre-existing, nonconforming, commercial and industrial activities (except for those sounds specifically prohibited in section 10.5-55 of this division);

(p)

Boats and boating activity;

(q)

Phosphate mining activity;

(r)

Emergency devices and vehicles used for the purpose of alerting people of an emergency, or the emission of sound in performance of emergency work;

(s)

Lawful public gatherings provided such activity occurs between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (except for those sounds specifically prohibited in section 10.5-55 of this division); and

(t)

Reasonable operation of equipment associated with the following activities between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.: Lawn care, soil cultivation, maintenance of trees, hedges, and gardens; the use of lawnmowers, saws, and tractors; tree trimming; and limb clipping.

(u)

Recreation and amusement (general or intensive) activities approved by the county through a Level 3 or Level 4 conditional use process under the Land Development Code.

(Ord. No. 14-030, § 10, 7-8-14; Ord. No. 18-024, § 3, 5-1-18)