25.08.500 NOISE CONTROL
25.08.500 Public disturbance noises.
It is unlawful for any person knowingly to cause or make, or for any person in possession of property
knowingly to allow or originate from the property, unreasonable noise which disturbs another, and to refuse
or intentionally fail to cease the unreasonable noise when ordered to do so by a police officer or, pursuant to
subsection A of this section, when ordered to do so by a police officer or animal control officer. ìUnreason-
able noiseî shall include the following sounds or combination of sounds:
A. Loud and raucous, and frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds made by any animal, except that
such sounds made in animal shelters, commercial kennels, veterinary hospitals, pet shops, or pet kennels
licensed under and in compliance with Chapter 10.72 of this Code shall be exempt from this subsection;
provided, that notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the owner or other person having cus-
tody of the animal cannot, with reasonable inquiry, be located by the investigating officer or if the animal is
a repeated violator of this subsection, the animal shall be impounded by the poundmaster, subject to re-
demption in the manner provided by Chapter 9.08 of this Code;
B. Loud and raucous, and frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds made by any horn or siren attached
to a motor vehicle, except such sounds that are made to warn of danger or that are specifically permitted or
required by law;
C. Loud and raucous, and frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds made in connection with the start-
ing, operation, repair, rebuilding or testing of any motor vehicle, motorcycle, off-highway vehicle, or inter-
nal combustion engine;
D. Loud or raucous, and frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds created by use of a musical instru-
ment, or other device capable of producing sound when struck by an object, a whistle, or a sound amplifier
or other device capable of producing, amplifying, or reproducing sound;
E. Loud and raucous, and frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds made by the amplified or unampli-
fied human voice between the hours of ten (10:00) p.m. and seven (7:00) a.m. The content of the speech
shall not be considered against any person in determining a violation of this subsection; and
F. Loud and raucous, and frequent, repetitive, or continuous sounds made by the amplified human voice
within the Pike Place Market Historical District, as designated in Chapter 25.24 of the Seattle Municipal
Code, between the hours of ten (10:00) a.m. and five (5:00) p.m. The content of the speech shall not be con-
sidered against any person in determining a violation of this subsection.
(Ord. 114656 ß 2, 1989: Ord. 110047 ß 2, 1981: Ord. 106360 ß 502, 1977.)
25.08.505 Residential disturbance violation.
It is unlawful for any person to knowingly allow real property under oneís possession or control to be
used for a residential disturbance, as defined in Section 25.08.225.
(Ord. 121192 ß 3, 2003.)
25.08.508 Abatement of chronic violations.
A. A residential property at which three (3) or more violations of SMC Section 25.08.505 occur within
any twelve (12) month period constitutes a nuisance and is subject to an action for abatement pursuant to
this section; provided that the person or persons responsible for such violations were residents of the same
housing unit, as defined in SMC Section 22.204.090.
B. The City Attorney shall notify the owner and tenant(s) of any property when a tenant or other person
has been found to be in violation of Section 25.08.505 at the ownerís property. All notices pursuant to this
subsection shall include notification that an action for abatement under this section may be commenced if
three (3) or more violations of Section 25.08.505 occur at the property within a twelve (12) month period
and the person or persons responsible were residents of the same housing unit as defined in SMC Section
22.204.090.
C. In addition to any other remedies provided by this chapter or any other law, an action to abate chronic
violations of Section 25.08.505, may be commenced by the City Attorney against the owner and/or ten-
ant(s) of a property following a third or subsequent violation of SMC Section 25.08.505 at the property
within a twelve (12) month period where the person or persons responsible for such violations were resi-