SNELLVILLE – Mayor and Council voted to make several changes to the city’s noise control ordinance, Monday.
“We've clarified some of the definitions in the previous ordinance,” Councilwoman Gretchen Schulz said. “For example, the previous ordinance had a section identified as ‘Leaf Blowers, Etc.’ We expanded that to say ‘landscape maintenance devices, including 2-cycle powered, electric or battery devices’ to include all landscape devices.”
Council also voted to change the hours during which landscape maintenance devices may be operated. Previously landscape work was designated to take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but the time has been extended from to 9 p.m.
“It was our feeling that when the days are longer in the spring and summer we wanted residents to have the ability to maintain their yards without being in violation of the ordinance,” Schulz said.
Other changes include:
- The pick-up of sanitation dumpsters is now prohibited between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. – previously pick-up was allowed until 11 p.m.
- The city adopted state regulations regarding vehicle muffler noise and consumer fireworks.
- A temporary permit for "relief" from the noise ordinance may be granted by the Snellville Police Department chief of police or department designee for a period not to exceed three consecutive days – it was formerly 15 days. An application must be submitted to SPD that provides details regarding why "relief" is necessary.