After years of complaints from residents about loud music and sleepless nights, the Fullerton City Council voted 3-2 on Oct. 21 to approve a downtown noise ordinance focused on toning down sounds from local bars and restaurants.
According to ordinance no. XXXX and reports from Voice of OC, businesses are limited to 75 dB for no more than five minutes and 80 dB for one minute.
The ordinance will drop the threshold to 65 dB for five minutes in the hour and 70 dB for one minute per hour during the week. Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday mornings will return to 75 dB for five minutes and 80 dB for one.
The ordinance will allow open-air entertainment in outdoor venues, like live music, in downtown areas between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., as long as the noise does not exceed 80 dB.
During public comments, a local business owner gave his take on the noise ordinance.
“Normal weekend noise can reach 75 decibels, even without violations or open doors,” said Elijah Manassero. “For that reason, I’d ask that council consider dropping the 75 decibels for five-minute thresholds and retain only the 80 decibel limit.”
Manassero explains this small change would make the ordinance balanced, fair for residents, enforceable for staff and realistic for businesses.
However, other residents voiced frustration that the issue has been ongoing for far too long.
“It’s been years and years and years,” said Joshua Ferguson, a local downtown resident. “I went to watch a movie last Saturday night and couldn’t hear my television over the bars outside.”
Council member Shana Charles agreed that residents should not have to live in such conditions. She asked Sunayana Thomas, Fullerton’s Director of Community and Economic Development, to clarify how noise complaints can currently be enforced.
“We can use public nuisance,” said Thomas. “If their music is louder and they’re just turning it up on their outside speakers, those are just clear violations, and we would be able to do a department assist.”
Thomas explains that a department assist refers to when contact is made and a citation is issued the next day.
Despite acknowledging residents’ frustrations, Charles voted against the ordinance, and the item passed after a 3-2 vote, going into effect in 30 days.
Local cafes, bars, clubs and restaurants may be impacted by the ordinance, especially those that have live music, like The Night Owl.
“I don’t think it’s really fair to businesses,” said Joe Rosati, owner of the Night Owl. “The only people that are complaining don’t even come here, it’s kind of strange.”
While under the ordinance, Rosati still plans to have live music on their outdoor patio.
Rosati mentions how downtown has always consisted of fun music and its organic features but with this vote the council is stripping Fullerton of its history.
“We need to get back to what the citizens of Fullerton want,” said Rosati. “Not what just one citizen wants.”
