COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER BROOKE PINTO
THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W. , SUITE 106
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004
March 24, 2025
Nyasha Howard, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Secretary Howard,
Today, along with Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmember Matthew Frumin, I am
introducing the Residential Tranquility Amendment Act of 2025. This legislation is necessary to
provide protection for residential tranquility and the safety of those who reside in the District.
Government has an obligation to protect residents from escalating forms of harassment and to
ensure the fundamental right to peace and security in ones homes. Current enforcement
mechanisms have proven insufficient to address harassment, leaving residents vulnerable to
immediate and ongoing harm. This bill is an urgent and necessary approach to safeguarding the
well-being of District residents and addressing challenges to residential peace and security.
The District of Columbia has observed an increase in targeted demonstrations using amplified
sound devices, creating significant disruptions that extend far beyond any single residence
impacting entire communities. These demonstrations, particularly when employing amplified
sound devices, fundamentally disturb the peace and tranquility that residents should rightfully
expect in their homes. As the Supreme Court emphasized in Carey v. Brown, “The State's interest
in protecting the well-being, tranquility, and privacy of the home is certainly of the highest order
in a free and civilized society.”
i
The Court has consistently recognized the home as “the last citadel
of the tired, the weary, and the sick,”
ii
and maintained that “preserving the sanctity of the home,
the one retreat to which men and women can repair to escape from the tribulations of their daily
pursuits, is surely an important value.”
iii
The persistent use of amplified sound devices in residential areas poses significant health risks to
residents. Medical research has established that persistent exposure to elevated sound levels can
trigger anxiety, elevated stress hormones, and adverse psychological effects.
iv
These impacts are
particularly severe for children whose cognitive development can be impaired by chronic
excessive sound exposure, and for elderly residents or residents with disabilities who may be more
sensitive to auditory disruptions.
v
2
Current regulations have proven inadequate in addressing the unique harm caused by targeted
amplified sound at residences, leaving communities without sufficient protections.
Demonstrations targeted at a residence can cause serious health, work, learning and sleep
disruptions; the limitations imposed through this legislation will help address these unique harms.
The legislation also addresses the emerging issue of unattended sound amplifying devices being
placed near residences. These devices, when left without active supervision, create unique
enforcement challenges and can subject residents to prolonged harassment with no accountable
party present to address concerns. The amendment prohibits the use of unattended amplifying
devices that target a residence for purposes of a demonstration while carefully preserving
legitimate uses through specific exemptions for emergency systems, security devices, permitted
events, construction activities, religious practices, and other necessary functions. This balanced
approach protects residential tranquility without unduly restricting legitimate sound-producing
activities that serve important community purposes. By requiring personal accountability for the
operation of sound-producing devices targeting residences, this provision strengthens enforcement
mechanisms against a form of harassment that has emerged as particularly disruptive to residential
communities.
The District has also observed a disturbing trend of individuals throwing projectiles at residential
properties as a means of harassment and intimidation. This behavior not only poses immediate
safety risks and potential property damage but also creates significant psychological distress for
residents who feel targeted and unsafe in their own homes. The current legal framework does not
adequately address this specific form of harassment, leaving a critical gap in protections for
District residents facing such intimidation tactics.
I previously introduced similar emergency legislation, which was passed by the Council in
December 2024, and this legislation would make permanent many of those changes.
Should you have any questions about this legislation, please contact Linn Groft, Committee and
Legislative Director at lgroft@dccouncil.gov.
Thank you,
Brooke Pinto
Councilmember, Ward 2
Chairwoman, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety
Council of the District of Columbia
i
Carey v. Brown, 447 U.S. 455, 471.
ii
Gregory v. Chicago, 394 U.S. 111, 125 (1969) (Black, J., concurring).
3
iii
Carey, supra n.1, at 471.
iv
Hahad, Omar et al. Environmental Noise-Induced Effects on Stress Hormones, Oxidative Stress, and Vascular
Dysfunction: Key Factors in the Relationship between Cerebrocardiovascular and Psychological Disorders,
Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity (Nov. 2019), available here.
v
Balk, Sophie J et al., Preventing Excessive Noise Exposure in Infants, Children, and Adolescents, Pediatrics
(October 2023), available here.
_____________________________ ___________________________ 1
Chairman Phil M endelson Councilmember Brooke Pinto 2
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_____________________________ _____________________________ 6
Councilmember Wendell Felder Councilmember Matthew Frumin 7
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A BILL 10
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 14
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To amend the Residential Tranquility Act of 2010 to prohibit persons targeting a residence for 18
purposes of a demonstration from using sound amplifying devices in a residential zone 19
between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., and to prohibit a person from launching or throwing a 20
projectile onto the residential property of another with the intent to cause fear, intimidate, 21
or retaliate against any person living or working at that residence; and to prohibit the use 22
of unattended noise amplifying devices emitting sound while targeting a residence; and to 23
amend the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 24
1997 to provide that the term expiration date for a Council appointment to the 25
Corrections Information Council shall be December 7th of the year in which the term 26
expires. 27
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may 28
be cited as the “Residential Tranquility Amendment Act of 2025”. 29
Sec. 2. The Residential Tranquility Act of 2010, effective May 26, 2011 (D.C. Law 18- 30
374; D.C. Official Code § 22- 2751 et seq.), is amended as follows: 31
(a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code § 22- 2751) is amended by adding a new paragraph (4) 32
to read as follows: 33
"(4) "Sound amplifying device" means any machine, device, or loudspeaker that 34
amplifies sound of the human voice, music, or any other sound. The term "sound amplifying 35
device" shall not include automobile audio systems when used and heard only by the occupants 36
of the vehicle in which the automobile audio system is installed, personal hearing aids, or 37
headphones. 38
“(5) “Unattended” means the device is not actively monitored, controlled, or supervised 39
by a person who is not in close physical proximity and capable of immediately ceasing the 40
operation of the device. 41
“(6) “Emitting" means the production or transmission of sound, whether continuous, 42
intermittent, or sporadic, that is audible to the average person at a distance of 25 feet or more 43
from the source of the sound amplifying device.”. 44
(b) Section 3 (D.C. Official Code § 22- 2752) is amended by adding new subsections (a-1) 45
and (a-3) to read as follows: 46
"(a-1) It is unlawful for a person to use a sound amplifying device to target a residence 47
for purposes of a demonstration between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. in Residential Zones, 48
Residential Flat Zones, or Residential Apartment Zones, as those terms are defined in the District 49
of Columbia Zoning Regulations. 50
"(a-2) It is unlawful to continue or resume targeting a residence in violation of this law 51
after being instructed by a law enforcement officer to cease targeting a residence in violation of 52
this law." 53
“(a-3) It is unlawful to leave or operate an unattended sound amplifying device emitting 54
sound to target a residence for purposes of a demonstration, provided that this prohibition shall 55
not apply to the following categories of devices or uses when used in compliance with all other 56
applicable laws and regulations: 57
“(1) Devices used for emergency or public safety purposes, including fire alarms, 58
smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and public address systems as well as emergency 59
alert systems or sirens used to warn the public of imminent danger or natural disasters; 60
“(2) Devices that are integral to property security or access control, including but 61
not limited to ring doorbells or similar video-enabled doorbell systems and electronic security 62
alarms or electronic security systems designed to alert property owners or occupants of 63
unauthorized access or other security concerns.
64
“(3) Sound amplifying devices used for events for which a valid permit has been 65
issued by the appropriate governmental authority such as concerts, parades, festivals or public 66
demonstrations, provided that such use complies with the terms and conditions of the permit;
67
“(4) Devices used in connection with construction activities, maintenance 68
activities, or repair activities, provided that such use is limited to the hours and noise levels 69
permitted under the Noise Act;
70
“(5) Devices used in connection with religious practices or by places of worship, 71
including but not limited to church bells, mosque calls to prayer, or other similar religious sound 72
devices, including amplifying devices used during religious ceremonies or services, provided 73
that such use is consistent with federal and local noise regulations; 74
“(6) Sound amplifying devices operated by law enforcement, fire departments, or 75
other emergency services resulting from emergency work, which is to be construed as work 76
made necessary to restore property to a safe condition following a public emergency, or work 77
required to protect persons or property from any imminent exposure to danger.
78
“(b) Th e exemptions listed in this section shall not be construed to permit the use 79
of sound amplifying devices in a manner that constitutes a public nuisance or otherwise violates 80
applicable noise ordinances. 81
“(d) This section shall not be construed to exempt any device or use from compliance 82
with other relevant District laws or regulations governing noise. 83
(c) A new section 3a is added to read as follows: 84
"Sec. 3a. Throwing projectiles at residential property. 85
"(a) It is unlawful for any person to launch or throw a projectile onto the residential 86
property of another with the intent to cause fear, intimidate, or retaliate against any person living 87
or working at that residence. 88
"(b) A person who violates this section, upon conviction, shall be fined no more than the 89
amount set forth in section 101 of the Criminal Fine Proportionality Amendment Act of 2012, 90
effective June 11, 2013 (D.C. Law 19- 317; D.C. Official Code § 22- 3571.01), or incarcerated for 91
no more than 90 days, or both.". 92
Sec. 3. Section 11201a(b)(2) of the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government 93
Improvement Act of 1997, effective October 2, 2010 (D.C. Law 18- 233; D.C. Official Code § 94
24-101.01(b)(2)), is amended by adding a new subparagraph (B-1) to read as follows: 95
"(B-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the term 96
expiration date for a Council appointment to the Corrections Information Council shall be 97
December 7th of the year in which the term expires.". 98
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 99
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 100
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 101
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1- 301.47a). 102
Sec. 5. Effective date. 103
This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, 104
action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided 105
in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 106
(87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1- 206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia 107
Register. 108