[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Maywood 8-14-84 as Ord. No. 12-84. Sections 226-8B, and 226-10A and B amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Alarms — See Ch. 106.
Dogs and other animals — See Ch. 161.
Fees — See Ch. 169.
Land use — See Ch. 209.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 237.
Peddling and soliciting — See Ch. 241.
Noise or sound nuisances — See Ch. 386. Art. II.
ATTACHMENTS
Table I, Maximum Permissible Sound Levels by Receiving Property Category
It is hereby found and declared that:
A. 
The occurrence of loud noises in the Borough of Maywood constitutes a detriment to the public health, comfort, safety and welfare of the residents of the Borough of Maywood.
B. 
As a matter of legislative determination and public policy, the provisions, regulations and prohibitions of this chapter are in pursuance of and for the purpose of securing and promoting the public health, comfort, convenience, safety and welfare and the peace and quiet of the Borough of Maywood and its inhabitants.
C. 
This chapter shall apply to the control of sound originating from stationary sources within the limits of the Borough of Maywood.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COMMERCIAL AREA
A group of commercial properties and the abutting public rights-of-way and public spaces.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
Any facility or property used for activities involving the furnishing or handling of goods or services, including but not limited to:
A. 
Commercial dining.
B. 
Off-road vehicle operating, such as repair, maintenance and terminalling.
C. 
Rental services.
D. 
Wholesale services.
E. 
Banking and office activities.
F. 
Recreation and entertainment.
G. 
Community services.
H. 
Public services.
I. 
Other commercial activities.
CONSTRUCTION
Any site preparation, assembly, erection, repair, alteration or similar action, but excluding the demolition of buildings or structures.
DBA
The abbreviation designating both the unit of measured sound level (the decibel) and the mode of measurement that uses the A-weighing of a sound-level meter.
DECIBEL (DB)
The practical unit of measurement for sound pressure level; the number of "decibels" of a measured sound is equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the sound pressure of the measured sound to the sound pressure of a standard sound [20 micropascals]: abbrieviated "dB."
DEMOLITION
Any intentional dismantling, destruction or removal of buildings or structures.
EMERGENCY WORK
Any work or action necessary to restore essential services, including but not limited to repairing water, gas, electricity, telephone, sewer facilities and public transportation, removing fallen trees on public rights-of-way and abating life-threatening conditions.
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
Any facility or property used for activities involving the production, fabrication, packaging, storage, warehousing, shipping or distribution of goods.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any vehicle which is propelled or drawn on land by an engine or motor.
NOISE
Any airborne sounds of such level and duration as to be or tend to be injurious to human health or welfare or that would unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life or property.
NOISE CONTROL OFFICER
An officially designated employee of the municipality, of a group of municipalities or of the county trained in the measurement of sound and empowered to issue citations of violations of this chapter.
NOISE DISTURBANCE
Any sound that endangers the safety or health of any person or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities or endangers personal or real property.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, association, society, firm, partnership, joint-stock company, the state or any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of the state.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
Any street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, sidewalk, alley or similar place that is owned or controlled by a governmental entity.
PUBLIC SPACE
Any real property or structures thereon that are owned or controlled by a governmental entity.
REAL PROPERTY LINE
Either the imaginary line, including its vertical extension, that separates one parcel of real property from another or the vertical and horizontal boundaries of a dwelling unit that is one in a multidwelling-unit building.
RESIDENTIAL AREA
A group of residential properties and the abutting public rights-of-way and public spaces.
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Any property used for human habitation.
SOUND LEVEL
The sound-pressure level measured in decibels with a sound-level matter set for A-weighing; "sound level" is expressed in "dBA."
SOUND-LEVEL METER
An instrument for the measurement of sound levels as specified in N.J.A.C. 7:29B, which provisions are incorporated herein by reference.
SOUND-PRESSURE LEVEL
The level of a sound measured in decibel units with a sound-level meter which has a uniform response over the band of frequencies measured.
A. 
The provisions of this chapter respecting maximum sound levels shall be enforced by the Noise Control Officer. All other provisions may be enforced by either the Noise Control Officer or any police officer of the borough.
B. 
The Noise Control Officer shall have the power to:
(1) 
Coordinate the noise control activities of all municipal departments and cooperate with all other public bodies and agencies to the extent practicable.
(2) 
Review the actions of other municipal departments and advise such departments of the effect, if any, of such actions on noise control.
(3) 
Review private projects, subject to mandatory review or approval by other departments, for compliance with this chapter.
C. 
The Noise Control Officer shall have the authority to grant permits for variances according to the provisions of § 226-8, provided that the variances are consistent with N.J.A.C. 7:29 et seq.
D. 
The Noise Control Officer shall not use this chapter in situations within the jurisdiction of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act.
E. 
A person shall be qualified to be a Noise Control Officer if the person has satisfactorily completed any of the following:
(1) 
Community Noise — A Short Course, offered by the Department of Environmental Science of Cook College, Rutgers, the State University.
(2) 
A program of tutoring and on-the-job training offered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Noise Control, to its employees.
(3) 
Education or experience or a combination thereof certified by the above Department as equivalent to the provisions of Subsection E(1) and (2) of this section.
F. 
Noise measurements made by the Noise Control Officer must be taken according to procedures specified by N.J.A.C. 7:29B, which provisions are incorporated herein by reference.
All departments, boards and agencies of the Borough of Maywood shall, to the fullest extent consistent with other law, carry out their programs and activities in such a manner as to further the policy of this chapter and shall cooperate with the Noise Control Officer in the implementation and enforcement of this chapter.
A. 
No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the operation of any source of sound on a particular category of property or any public lands or right-of-way in such a manner as to create a sound level that exceeds the particular sound-level limits set forth in Table I[1] when measured at or within the real property line of the receiving property.
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 1 is included at the end of this chapter.
B. 
When measuring noise within a multidwelling unit, all doors and windows shall be closed, and the measurements shall be taken in the center of the room.
A. 
No person shall cause, allow or permit to be made, verbally or mechanically, any noise disturbance. Noncommercial public speaking and public assembly activities conducted on any public space or public right-of-way shall be exempt from the operation of this section.
B. 
No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the following acts:
(1) 
Sound-reproduction systems: operating, playing or permitting the operation or playing of any radio, television, phonograph or similar device that reproduces or amplifies sound in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance for any person other than the operator of the device.
(2) 
Loudspeakers and public address systems: using or operating of any loudspeaker, public address system or similar device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in the following day such that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property line.
(3) 
Animals and birds: owning, possessing or harboring any pet animal or pet bird that, frequently or for continued duration, makes sounds that create a noise disturbance across a residential real property line. For the purpose of this section, a noise disturbance from a barking dog shall be defined as that created by a dog barking continually for 10 minutes or intermittently for 30 minutes.
(4) 
Loading and unloading: loading, unloading, opening, closing or other handling of boxes, crates, containers, building materials, liquids, garbage cans, refuse or similar objects or the pneumatic or pumped loading or unloading of bulk materials in liquid, gaseous, powder or pellet form or compacting refuse by persons engaged in the business of scavenging or private garbage collection in such a manner as to create a noise disturbance across residential property any time on Sundays and legal holidays or between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on any other day of the week: provided, however, that such prohibitions shall not apply to the loading or unloading of residential furnishings from or into any residential dwelling unit.
(5) 
Standing motor vehicles: operating or permitting the operation of any motor vehicle or any auxiliary equipment attached to such a vehicle for a period of longer than three minutes in any hour while the vehicle is stationary, for reasons other than traffic congestion or emergency work, 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 8:00 a.m. in the following day.
(6) 
Motor vehicle repairs and testing: repairing, rebuilding, modifying or testing any motor or engine in such a manner as to exceed any applicable limit in Table I[1] across a residential area property line.
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 1 is included at the end of this chapter.
(7) 
Construction: operating or permitting the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, pneumatic drilling, earthmoving, excavating or demolition work any time on Sundays and legal holidays or between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on any other day or the operating of such tools or equipment at any time without a proper muffler except for emergency work, by special variance issued pursuant to § 226-8 or when the sound level does not exceed any applicable limit specified in Table I.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Table I is included at the end of this chapter.
C. 
Proof of a violation of any provision of this section shall not require proof of the decibel level of the noise which is alleged to constitute such violation.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
A. 
Noise from domestic power tools, lawn mowers and agricultural equipment, when operated with a 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. on weekends and legal holidays, provided that they produce less than 85 dBA at 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, except as provided in § 226-6B(7).
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 conforms 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 of its being activated.
G. 
Noise from the performance of any public or governmental function, such as the sounding of a police, fire, ambulance, air raid or like disaster warning, alert or alarm when such alarm is sounded for an emergency purpose and is necessary to warn pedestrians and motorists.
H. 
Noise from engaging in political activity by means of a sound truck or other amplifying device, provided that such persons shall have first filed with the Noise Control Officer an application for a permit setting forth the sponsorship, date, hours and routes of such activity and the Noise Control Officer shall have issued a permit after having ascertained that such activity is not in conflict in terms of hours, route, traffic volume and like factors with respect to any other previously scheduled activity.
I. 
Noise from engaging in any activity specifically permitted or required by an ordinance, resolution, statute or governmental regulation.
J. 
Noise from engaging in any parade, event or recreational activity organized or recognized by the Borough of Maywood in a location designated by the Borough of Maywood for such activity.
A. 
Any person who owns or operates any stationary noise source may apply to the Noise Control Officer for a variance or a partial variance from one or more of the provisions of this chapter upon service by certified mail, return receipt requested, of a written notice to all owners and residents of properties adjoining the property on which the stationary noise source is located. Such notice shall set forth the information contained on the application and shall further state that any objection to the requested variance must be provided, in writing, to the applicant and filed with the Noise Control Officer within 10 days of receipt thereof.
(1) 
Applications for a variance shall supply information, including but not limited to:
(a) 
Information on the nature and location of the facility or process for which such application is made.
(b) 
The reason for which the variance is required.
(c) 
The nature and intensity of noise that will occur during the period of the variance.
(d) 
A description of interim noise control measures to be taken by the applicant to minimize noise and the impacts occuring therefrom.
(e) 
A specific schedule of the noise control measures which shall be taken to bring the source into compliance.
(2) 
Failure to supply the information required by the Noise Control Officer shall be cause for rejection of the application.
B. 
There shall be a fee as set forth in Chapter 169, Fees, payable by the applicant to the borough to cover expenses resulting from the processing of the variance application.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1. General Provisions, Art. I.
C. 
The Noise Control Officer may grant a variance from the provisions of this chapter where the strict application thereof would result in peculiar and exceptional practical difficulties to or exceptional and undue hardship upon the applicant, provided that such variance can be granted without substantial detriment to the public health, safety and welfare. The Noise Control Officer may, at his/her discretion, limit the duration of the variance, which shall never be longer than one year. Any person holding a variance and needing an extension of time may apply for a new variance under the provisions of this section.
D. 
The filing of an application for a variance shall operate as a stay of prosecution, except that such stay may be terminated by the Noise Control Officer if the public health so requires.
E. 
If written objection is received to the requested variance, the Noise Control Officer shall schedule an informal hearing upon 10 days' notice to the applicant and the objectors, at which time all interested parties may be heard and may present evidence. The Noise Control Officer shall not be bound by the strict application of the rules of evidence. Upon the conclusion of such hearing, the Noise Control Officer shall issue a written decision and shall furnish a copy of the same to the applicant and each objector appearing.
A. 
Upon the complaint of any citizen, the Noise Control Officer or any police officer of the Borough of Maywood shall investigate any alleged violation of this chapter and, upon information or belief, may cause a complaint or summons to be issued.
B. 
The foregoing shall not be construed to limit the right to any aggrieved person to sign a complaint or otherwise seek enforcement of any provision of this chapter.
C. 
No provision of this chapter shall be construed to impair any common law or statutory cause of action, or legal remedy therefrom, of any person for injury or damage arising from any violation of this chapter or from other law.
D. 
In lieu of issuing a summons as provided in Subsection A above, the Noise Control Officer may issue an order requiring abatement of any source of sound alleged to be in violation of this chapter within a reasonable time period and according to guidelines which the Noise Control Officer may prescribe.
A. 
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the Magistrate before whom the matter shall be heard.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
B. 
Any corporation or firm violating any provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, pay a fine of not more than $1,000 for each violation.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I.
C. 
Each day that a violation shall exist or continue shall constitute a separate offense, and conviction shall not excuse the violation nor permit it to continue.