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PORTLAND, Ore. — Amendments to existing local government legislation on noise pollution codes and their enforcement in Portland are under the spotlight. Officials have decided to consolidate two existing noise enforcement codes into one, less conflicting rule of law.
Portland has two separate noise enforcement codes – Title 18 Noise Control, a civil system that applies objective, measurable standards via decibel-based enforcement, and Sections 14A.30.010 and 14A.30.020 (Nuisance Noise), a subjective, complaint-driven system based on “plainly audible” standards, which have led to inconsistent enforcement.
Tidings Data Snapshot
Portland Noise Enforcement – Why the City Wants One Clear RuleSource: City of Portland ordinance history and impact statement on consolidating noise enforcementDailyTidings.com
| Code | Standard | How it’s enforced | Why the City says it’s changing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title 18 - Noise Control | Objective decibel-based rules | Measured with sound level tools | Clearer standards, more consistent outcomes |
| Title 14A - Nuisance Noise | Subjective “plainly audible” complaints | Heavily complaint-driven | Inconsistent enforcement and confusion |
Officials want to repeal Title 14 and amend Title 18. The proposed amendment states that people no longer depend on their ears to decipher if a sound is too loud because of technological advancements, such as cell phones, which can ‘do the work.’
Source: European Environment Agency reporting on transport noise exposure
Dailytidings.com
City-issued mobile devices include a sound pressure level measurement that makes noise complaints objective and measurable criteria for violations of the code.
The City of Portland has made only six arrests in the last nine years for violations of its noise codes.
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