§ 21.062. Legislative findings.

The Board of County Commissioners of Wakulla County hereby makes the following legislative findings:

(1)

The board has all authority pursuant to Art. VIII, section (1)(g), Florida Constitution, and F.S. § 125.01, and section 2.7 of the Wakulla County Charter, to enact county ordinances not inconsistent with general law.

(2)

The board hereby acknowledges that unreasonable and excessive sound, or noise, has serious detrimental effects on the public health, welfare, and safety of the citizens of Wakulla County. Due to these detrimental effects, the board finds it is necessary to regulate unreasonable and excessive sound occurring within the county.

(3)

The board also finds that unreasonable and excessive sound negatively and severely impacts the ability of persons within the county to peaceably enjoy both public and private property and a reduction of the volume levels of such sound serves a significant governmental interest.

(4)

It is the intent of the board to prohibit excessive and unreasonable sound that may jeopardize the citizens of the county or degrade their quality of life.

(5)

The board finds that the provisions of the article are unrelated to the content of the noise being produced and they provide ample alternative channels for producing sound within the county, even if such sound is only allowed at certain times, below specified volume levels, and in certain locations.

(6)

The regulations provided herein are narrowly tailored to serve the significant governmental interest in ensuring that all persons are able to peacefully enjoy their property and in ensuring that the health interests of all persons in the county are protected from the effects of excessive and disturbing sounds.

(7)

This article should be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes described in this section.

(Ord. No. 2012-26, § 3, 9-4-2012)