§ 13-101. Definitions.

The following words, when used in this chapter, shall have the following respective meanings, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Excessive noise means any sound which annoys or disturbs humans or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans. Specific examples of prohibited excessive noise are set forth in section 13-103 of this chapter.

Mass outdoor social gathering means a social event conducted outside or in a partially enclosed structure, on public or private land in the town, to which two hundred (200) or more people are invited or expected to attend, as licensees, invitees, or trespassers, or as people who happen to show up, or at which two hundred (200) or more people are actually in attendance. This term may also be referred to as "the event".

Motor vehicle means a vehicle defined as a motor vehicle by Code of Virginia (1950), § 46.2-100, as amended.

Owner means the person owning, controlling, or possessing land, premises, or personalty.

Person means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, society, club, group of people acting in concert, or organization. This term shall not include the federal, state, county, town, city, or local government, or any agency or institution thereof.

Public property means any real property owned or controlled by the town or any other governmental entity or institution.

Plainly audible means any sound that can be heard clearly by a person using his or her unaided hearing faculties. When music is involved, the detection of rhythmic bass tones shall be sufficient to be considered plainly audible sound.

Public right-of-way means any street, avenue, boulevard, highway, sidewalk or alley.

Real property boundary means the property line along the ground surface, and its vertical extension, which separates the real property owned by one (1) person from that owned by another person.

Residential refers to single-unit, two-unit, and multiunit dwellings, and residential areas of planned residential zoning district classifications, as set out in the zoning ordinance, Appendix A, Blacksburg Town Code, as amended.

Sound means an oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity, or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that cause compression and rarefaction of that medium, and which propagates at a finite speed. The description of sound may include any characteristic of such sound, including duration, intensity and frequency.

Sound amplifying equipment means any machine or device for the amplification of the human voice, music or any other sound. This term shall not include warning devices on authorized emergency vehicles, or horns or other warning devices on other vehicles used only for traffic safety purposes.

Sponsor means a person or persons who organizes, supports, specifically benefits from, or is in charge of a mass outdoor social gathering.

Town manager means the town manager or the chief of police, or their respective designees.

(Ord. No. 1537, § 1, 9-8-09)

(Ord. No. 1537, § 1, 9-8-09)