Summer is here, and with the warmer temperatures and longer days of sunshine comes another side effect: noise. Beyond the much-heralded hum of the cicadas, summer in Oak Park and River Forest brings with it an increase in construction projects, landscape work and outdoor entertainment.
These activities all bring more noise into the urban suburban landscape where neighbors often cannot escape the sounds from others on their block. Oak Park’s village code has plenty to say about noise, but according to Dan Yopchick, Oak Park’s communications person, a lot of issues over noise can be solved by just being neighborly.
Contractors and landscapers
Residential contractors are bound by municipal code for work hours and can work from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. every day of the week. While contractors’ work hours are limited, residents are also prohibited from conducting building operations between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7 a.m.
According to Yopchick, landscaper hours are a bit more restrictive. They can work 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
There is some grey area in the difference between working hours for landscapers and contractors. For instance, Yopchick says all landscapers are considered contractors but not all contractors are considered landscapers. When it comes to work like lawn maintenance and care, the work being done is defined as landscaping and should be limited to landscaper hours.
If a landscaping company is working on an outdoor construction project like a patio or concrete work, Yopchick says their work is more likely defined as construction rather than landscaping.
Yopchick says much has been made of the village’s move to limit leaf blowers in Oak Park to electric leaf blowers. The new ordinance, which will take effect June 1, 2025, is a boon to those who hate the noise of gas-powered leaf blowers and has environmental benefits as well.
Per current village regulations, gas-powered leaf blowers can be operated only between Oct. 31 and May 31 while electric leaf blowers can be used year-round.
Village representatives are working to get the word out on the new leaf blower regulations. Residents were polled last fall about the companies they use for landscaping, and Yopchick says the village has used that information to communicate the coming changes to landscapers.
“It’s a multi-layered approach,” he says. “I suspect it will be ongoing. When our team is on the street, they can share materials on the coming changes.”
He says when the change was codified last year, there was an intentional long period of education before the ordinance went into effect. Once the ordinance does go into effect in 2025, Yopchick says the enforcement will be more educational than punitive. The purpose of the ordinance is to encourage landscapers to use electric leaf blowers, not to issue citations.
Residents making noise
In general, Yopchick says that a residential noise nuisance is something that occurs between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. “Outside of leaf blowers, which are restricted to 65 decibels or lower, there are no numbers in the code,” he says, noting that noise is subjective.
Whether it’s loud noise, music or equipment, the definition of loud can vary. Yopchick says residents are free to call for enforcement during the quiet hours of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. but notes that the easiest route is often to be neighborly and work it out with your neighbors rather than calling for enforcement.
What’s in the noise code ? 17-1-30: NOISE:
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue to cause to be made or continue any loud, unnecessary, prolonged or unusual noise which disturbs the peace of others.
The following acts, among others, are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises in violation of this section, but said enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive, namely:
A. The sounding of any horn or signaling device on any automobile, street car, motorcycle or other vehicle on any street or public place of the village, except as a danger warning; the creation by means of any such signaling device of a repetitious sound for an unnecessary and unreasonable period of time. The use of any signaling device except one operated by hand or electricity; the use of any horn, whistle or other device operated by engine exhaust; and the use of any such signaling device when traffic is for any reason held up.
B. The using, operating or permitting to be played, used or operated any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants or at any time with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing for the person or persons who are in the room, vehicle or chamber in which such machine or device is operated and who are voluntary listeners thereto.
C. The using of, operating or permitting to be played, used or operated, any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, loudspeaker, sound amplifier or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound which is cast upon the public streets for the purpose of commercial advertising or attracting the attention of the public to any building, structure, vehicle or person.
D. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of eleven o›clock (11) p.m. and seven o’clock (7) a.m., or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort, or repose of persons in any office, or in any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, or of any person in the vicinity.
E. The keeping of any animal which by causing noise shall disturb the peace.
F. The blowing of any steam whistle attached to any stationary boiler except to give notice of the time to begin or stop work or as a warning of fire or danger, or upon request of proper municipal authorities.
G. The discharge into the open air of the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal combustion engine, motorboat, or motor vehicle except through a muffler or other device which will effectively prevent loud or explosive noises therefrom.
H. The use of any leaf blower in excess of more than sixty-five decibels (65 dB) as rated by a manufacturer’s specifications. The use of leaf blowers are subject to the equipment restrictions provided in section 8-41-4 of this code.