Construction workers and their machines can operate for longer periods — at least in unincorporated Volusia County — under a law just enacted by the County Council.

With a solid majority vote, the council approved an earlier start time and later quitting time for construction activities that can be heard by neighbors.

“Council, please don’t do this,” Council Member Troy Kent pleaded to his colleagues Dec. 5. “I didn’t have any residents reach out to me and say, ‘We want more noise earlier.’”

Currently, construction activities that cause noise — such as hammering, sawing, drilling, bulldozing — are allowed in the unincorporated areas of the county only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. On weekends, meaning Saturdays and Sundays, construction that may be heard short distances away is permitted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The new ordinance allows construction to begin at 7 a.m and extend until 9 p.m. Monday through Sunday — seven days a week. The new hours are in effect for holidays, as well.

“I can’t support 6 to 9,” County Chair Jeff Brower said.

Brower lives in DeLeon Springs, a rural settlement dotted with farms in northwest Volusia.

“We have this as a community standard to protect the quality of life,” he added. Vice Chair Danny Robins supported the change.

“We have to work for the people,” he said.

“I think by adopting this we’re sending a clear message that we want people to work in this county,” Robins added.

Construction noise is allowed …
DeLand: 7 a.m.-11 p.m. seven days a week.
DeBary: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; other times only if approved by the city manager. Exceptions are made for emergencies.
Deltona: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. seven days a week; exceptions are allowed by special permit.
Orange City: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday. Construction noise is limited to 50
decibels on Saturdays and Sundays, and exceptions may be allowed by special permit.
Daytona Beach: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week in residential areas; commercial areas are exempt from regulation in this regard.
Ormond Beach: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week.
Port Orange: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday and holidays.
Holly Hill: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday and holidays.
Daytona Beach Shores: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday and holidays.
New Smyrna Beach: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. No noise is allowed on holidays.
Ponce Inlet: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and holidays. No noise is allowed on Sundays.
South Daytona: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Exceptions are made for emergency work.
Edgewater: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with exceptions for emergencies.
— Volusia County staff research

Kent picked up on the messaging point. “I want to send a message to the residents, not just to developers and the tree companies,” he told Robins and others. “I want to send a message to those residents that we care about quiet time.”

Council Member Jake Johansson agreed with the idea of allowing a longer work day for builders. However, he said, “6 o’clock in the morning might be a little early to hammer nails into a roof.”

“I’m OK with it the way it is now,” Council Member Don Dempsey said.

A few spectators in the audience spoke out against longer construction hours.

“What about us?” asked Jacqueline Wait. “We retired here to enjoy a peaceful community.”

Daytona Beach resident John Nicholson, a frequent attendee of County Council meetings, said the tools and machines are not the only noise-makers.

“They [the workers] are talking; they’re cursing, and they’re swearing,” he told the County Council. “I also care about Sunday morning. … It’s not as prevalent as it used to be … a day of rest.”

“I wouldn’t want to work on Sunday at all,” Doyle Wayne Lewis said.

In the end, five council members — Robins, Dempsey, Johansson, Matt Reinhart and David Santiago — voted in favor of the longer construction-with-noise hours. Brower and Kent dissented.

The new hours for allowing construction or demolition in the unincorporated parts of the county go into effect as soon as the ordinance is filed with the Florida Department of State.

Before the ordinance on building times was presented, the County Council received a memorandum regarding how cities regulate building times. County Growth and Resource Management Director Clay Ervin and his staff compiled the information. The closing paragraph of the document reads:

“The 6:00 AM start time in the proposed ordinance is the earliest when compared to the 13 cities surveyed by the county staff. The 9:00 PM end time is not the latest time, since there are cities that allow noise to be generated by construction activity to occur until 10:00 PM in Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach. DeLand allows noise to occur on construction sites up to 11 PM.”