Oregon Revised Statutes
The Legislative Assembly finds that the increasing incidence of noise emissions in this state at unreasonable levels is as much a threat to the environmental quality of life in this state and the health, safety and welfare of the people of this state as is pollution of the air and waters of this state. To provide protection of the health, safety and welfare …
Except as provided in ORS 467.131 and 467.133, no person may emit, cause the emission of, or permit the emission of noise in excess of the levels fixed therefor by the Environmental Quality Commission pursuant to ORS 467.030.
In accordance with the applicable provisions of ORS chapter 183, the Environmental Quality Commission shall adopt rules relating to the control of levels of noise emitted into the environment of this state and including the following: Categories of noise emission sources, including the categories of motor vehicles and aircraft. Requirements and specificati…
In addition to the powers of the Environmental Quality Commission described in ORS 467.060, the commission by rule may exempt a class of activity within a category of noise emission sources from the application of a rule establishing maximum permissible levels of noise emission for that category of noise emission sources. In determining whether to grant an …
The Environmental Quality Commission has the power to investigate complaints regarding excessive noise emission, to hold hearings, to issue orders, to make rules, to impose sanctions, and to do any other thing necessary to carry out the policies of this state as set forth in this chapter.
The Environmental Quality Commission shall have the further power to enforce compliance with or restrain violation of this chapter or rules or orders made thereunder in the same manner provided for enforcement proceedings under ORS chapters 468, 468A and 468B.
The Environmental Quality Commission by order may grant specific variances from the particular requirements of any rule or standard to such specific persons or class of persons or such specific noise emission source, upon such conditions as it may consider necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare. The specific variance may be limited in dur…
Pursuant to this chapter, in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens, a city or county may adopt and enforce noise ordinances or noise standards otherwise permitted by law. A city or county may also adopt such standards for a class of activity exempted by the commission or noise emission sources not regulated by the commission. The c…
Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, agricultural operations and forestry operations are exempt from the provisions of this chapter. As used in this section: “Agricultural operations” means the current employment of land and buildings on a farm for the purpose of obtaining a profit in money by raising, harvesting and selling crops or by th…
Any owner, operator or lessee of a rifle, pistol, silhouette, skeet, trap, blackpowder or other shooting range in this state shall be immune from civil or criminal liability based upon an allegation of noise or noise pollution so long as: The allegation results from the normal and accepted activity on the shooting range; The owner, operator or lessee compl…
The owner, operator or lessee of a rifle, pistol, silhouette, skeet, trap, blackpowder or other shooting range in this state shall not be subject to any action for nuisance and no court in this state shall enjoin the use or operation of such shooting range on the basis of noise or noise pollution so long as: The allegation results from the normal and accept…
Any local government or special district ordinance or regulation now in effect or subsequently adopted that makes a shooting range a nuisance or trespass or provides for its abatement as a nuisance or trespass is invalid with respect to a shooting range for which no action or claim is allowed under ORS 467.131 and 467.133. Note: See note under 467.131.
The exemption allowed under ORS 467.131 and 467.133 for shooting activity conducted for law enforcement training purposes shall be allowed only: For up to four nights a month; and After the owner, lessee or operator provides notice of the activity at least one week before the activity occurs by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in a county …
Violation of any provision of this chapter or rules or orders made under the provisions of this chapter is a Class B misdemeanor. Each day of violation shall be considered a separate offense. _______________