NYC Park Regulations re: sound amplification (3 posts)

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  • Profile picture of Felipe T Ribeiro Felipe T Ribeiro3p said 6 months, 4 weeks ago:

    Hello all,
    I want to improve the soapbox experience by building an acoustic amplifier for the human voice. I have done some research into the NYC parks department regulations regarding this, and the public facing regulations state that you need a permit for “amplified sound.”

    I was wondering if anyone knew where the wording was in the ACTUAL law passed. My question is whether the term amplification is qualified by the term “electronic”. The difference could be significant, because acoustic amplification is nothing more than a cone-shaped device that allows the human voice to carry farther. I wonder if it wouldn’t be worth trying to build something, and offering plans online for other to do the same.

    My searches of the NYC bylaws have been fruitless, even though it is activity occurring in NYC parks, the permitting requirement is with the NYPD, and so far I’ve turned up nothing precise.

    Bottom line: I am looking for the exact instance in the NYC legal code that stipulates permits are required for amplified sound, and whether this is taken to mean acoustic amplification, as well as electronic.

    Thanks for any insight!
    Felipe

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  • Profile picture of damian damian said 6 months, 3 weeks ago:

    The authority for the parks regs regarding sound, among other things, is in the City Administrative Code 10-108. Regulation of sound devices or apparatus. a. Legislative declaration. It is hereby declared that the use or operation of any radio device or apparatus or any device or apparatus for the amplification of sounds from any radio, phonograph or other sound-making or sound-producing device, or any device or apparatus for the reproduction or amplification of the human voice or other sounds, . . . anywhere on or in the public streets, parks or places, is detrimental to the health, welfare and safety of the inhabitants of the city, in that such use or operation diverts the attention of pedestrians and vehicle operators in the public streets, parks and places, thus increasing traffic hazards and causing injury to life and limb. . . . Therefore, it is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination that … the proper regulation of such use and operation for all other purposes is essential to protect the health, welfare and safety of the inhabitants of the city, to secure the health, safety, comfort, convenience, and peaceful enjoyment by the people of their rights to use the public streets, parks and places for street, park and other public purposes and to secure the peace, quiet and comfort of the city’s inhabitants. It is hereby further declared as a matter of legislative determination that the expense of supervising and regulating the use and operation of such sound devices and apparatus for purposes other than commercial and business advertising purposes should be borne by the persons using or operating such devices and apparatus and that the requirement of a nominal fee for the issuance of a permit for such use and operation as hereinafter prescribed is intended to defray the expenses of regulating such use or operation for the health, welfare and safety of all the people.

    2. The term “sound device or apparatus” shall mean any radio device or apparatus, or any device or apparatus for the amplification of any sounds from any radio, phonograph, or other sound-making or sound-producing device, or any device or apparatus for the reproduction or amplification of the human voice or other sounds;

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  • Profile picture of Felipe T Ribeiro Felipe T Ribeiro3p said 6 months, 2 weeks ago:

    Wow, damian! That’s exactly what I was looking for! So, without an “electronic” qualifier, I guess amplification includes the idea of a simple funnel, acoustically amplifying the sound. Bummer! I was excited about building this… again, thanks for the slam dunk answer.

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