Jefferson City Council approved an updated noise ordinance Monday that gives police better guidelines for measuring noise when they investigate a complaint.

Police Chief Joe Wirthman, City Manager John Ward and City Attorney Ronnie Hopkins were tasked with developing the changes after Wirthman requested help from the council following a noise ordinance case that was thrown out of court.

The new ordinance states "At no time shall a person or persons produce a noise where the sound pressure exceeds the decibel level 75 feet away and perpendicular from the sound-producing source or building." A sound level meter will measure the decibels.

Higher decibel levels will be allowed until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 12:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Levels cannot exceed 60 decibels in residential areas, 65 decibels in the central business district and commercial zones, and 70 decibels in industrial areas.

In other business at the council meeting, the council agreed to turn over animal control enforcement to Jackson County through an intergovernmental agreement. According to Ward, no additional expense is expected as a result of the transfer of responsibility.