§ 3-1.5. Maximum permissible sound levels.
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a.
Stationary sources.
1.No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the operation of any source of sound on a particular category of property or any public space or right-of-way in such a manner as to create a sound level that exceeds the particular sound level limits as contained in Title 7, Chapter 29 of the New Jersey Administrative Code, which provisions are incorporated herein by reference and when measured at or within the real property line of the receiving property, except as provided in subparagraph 3. below.
2.When measuring noise within a dwelling unit of a multi-dwelling-unit building, all exterior doors and windows shall be closed and the measurements shall be taken in the center of the room.
3.Exemptions. The following are exempt from the sound level limits of Title 7, Chapter 29 of the New Jersey Administrative Code.
(a)Noise from domestic power tools, lawn mowers and agricultural equipment when operated with a functioning muffler between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. weekends and legal holidays, provided that they produce less than 85 dBA at or within any real property line of a residential property.
(b)Sound from church bells and church chimes when a part of a religious observance or service.
(c)Noise from construction activity, provided that all motorized equipment used in such activity is equipped with functioning mufflers, except as provided in paragraph b,6 herein.
(d)Noise from snowblowers, snow throwers and snowplows when operated with a muffler for the purpose of snow removal.
(e)Noise from stationary emergency signaling devices that conform to the provisions of N.J.A.C. 7:29-13, which provisions are incorporated herein by reference.
(f)Noise from an exterior burglar alarm of any building or motor vehicle, provided that such burglar alarm shall terminate its operation within 15 minutes after it has been activated.
(g)Assigned activity of Municipal employees performing employment tasks of approved Municipal public events.
b.Mobile sources.
1.Motor vehicles and motorcycles on public rights-of-way. No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the operation of a public or private motor vehicle or motorcycle on a public right-of-way at any time in such a manner that the sound level emitted by the motor vehicle or motorcycle exceeds the level set forth in Table I.
2.Recreational motorized vehicles operating off public rights-of-way. No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the operation of a recreational vehicle in such a manner that the sound level emitted therefrom exceeds the limits set forth in Table II at either a distance of 50 feet (15 meters) or more from the path of the vehicle when operated on a public space or (2) at or across a real property line when operated on a private property. This subsection shall apply to all recreational vehicles, whether or not duly licensed or registered.
3.Adequate mufflers.
(a)No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the operation of any motor vehicle or motorcycle not equipped with original muffler or equivalent replacement in good working order and in constant operation.
(b)No person shall remove or render inoperative or cause to be removed or rendered inoperative other than for purposes of maintenance, repair or replacement, any muffler on a motor vehicle or motorcycle.
4.Motor vehicle horns and signaling devices. The following acts and the causing thereof are declared to be in violation of this section:
(a)The sounding of any horn or other auditory signaling device that produces a sound level in excess of 100 dBA at 25 feet (7.5 meters).
5.Standing motor vehicles. No person shall operate or permit the operation of any motor vehicle or any auxiliary equipment attached to such a vehicle for a period longer than three minutes in any hour while the vehicle is stationary, for reasons other than traffic congestion, on a public right-of-way or public space within 150 feet (46 meters) of a residential area between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. the following day.