Fullerton’s Noise Ordinance Draws Criticism from Musicians and Business Owners

Live music performance has an overwhelmingly positive impact on a city and helps bring in revenue.  Amongst audiences, it bridges artificial borders between diverse groups of people.  It attracts youth to music and arts programs in school. It helps independent restaurants thrive. It employs music related professionals and contributes greatly to the culture of a city.

I have been a professional musician in the Southland for more than 40 years, and have seen first hand how live music enhances the quality of life in any city.

It is shameful how the city of Fullerton’s council majority has chosen to hinder and limit live music performance in the city through their new “noise ordinance,” rather than enhance it.

The city has an important role in limiting noise that clearly violates the peace of a normally quiet residential neighborhood.  However, what the Fullerton Council has done to downtown businesses is enforce sound decibel levels, not from residential property lines, but from the property lines of the music venues themselves. 

Measuring sound levels from the property line of the music venue is illogical. If the venue is on a street, the passing cars on that street are the only ones affected by the sound level at the venue’s property line.  And the cars are probably louder than the music itself.  The sound level restrictions must be enforced from the property line of residents, who are the ones being affected by the sound level.

Additionally, the council’s decibel level restrictions could potentially halt most live music.  For instance, up till 10 pm, live music venues can not exceed 75 decibels for 5 minutes.  Seventy-five decibels is approximately equal to the sound of a household vacuum cleaner.  Everyone knows a live music performance is probably louder than a vacuum, so the restriction could severely affect live music performances.  

As all Fullertonians know, the downtown area of Fullerton is quite different from the residential areas of Fullerton.  There is a lot of activity in downtown, especially on weekends.  Someone who lives in one of the few residential buildings in downtown has to be aware that the downtown area’s noise level is elevated, especially on the weekends.  In fact, it is a good bet that most who choose to live in the immediate downtown area, probably like the nightlife there and are attracted to the sounds and activity it produces.

Punishing businesses downtown that help contribute so much to the city’s coffers and the quality of life of Fullertonians is exactly the wrong thing to do.  The city council should be helping to promote small businesses and the culture that makes Fullerton a leading destination for so many in Orange County.

The second reading of this ordinance is tonight at the Fullerton City Council. Meetings are on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm. Upcoming agenda information and streaming video of meetings are available at http://www.cityoffullerton.com click on meetings and agenda. City Hall is located at 303 W. Commonwealth, Fullerton. Contact Council at (714) 738-6311 or council@cityoffullerton.com

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