By Debbie Carson, Online Editor
SEBASTIAN — The Sebastian City Council is expected to vote on its new residential noise ordinance Wednesday evening. The rules would restrict the use of lawn mowers and power tools from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and entertainment electronics including outdoor TVs and stereos from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Restaurants with outdoor entertainment and other businesses would be exempt from the new rules.
The new rules are expected to pass with unanimous support after the council fully supported the first reading of the ordinance at its prior meeting.
A first violation of the new noise ordinance will result in a written or an oral warning. Corrective action must be taken within five minutes or a citation will be issued. A first citation is a fine of $50.
A second citation results in a $250 fine, and a third and each subsequent citation results in a $500 fine.
Following numerous complaints lodged with the Sebastian Police Department and the difficulty enforcing the existing code, the Sebastian City Council had asked City Attorney Robert Ginsburg to examine the noise ordinances of other jurisdictions and put together a plan for Sebastian.
Ella Chabot-Remington contributed to this report.