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Township of Haverford, PA
Delaware County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (4) Index Notes (1)
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Haverford 3-12-1973 by Ord. No. 1509. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Department of Code Enforcement — See Ch. 4, Part 4, Art. VI.
Animals — See Ch. 49, Art. I.
Environmental performance standards — See Ch. 76.
Firearms and fireworks — See Ch. 83.
Parades and outdoor gatherings — See Ch. 123.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 128, Art. I.
The following words and terms, as used herein shall have the following meanings:
CONTINUOUS NOISE
A noise which normally continues for a period of time necessary for an operator of a sound-level meter and associated band analyzer to obtain accurate readings in all frequency bands, as set forth in the tables in § 117-3 hereof.
DAYTIME HOURS
The hours between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
DIRECTOR
The Director of Code Enforcement.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960]
NIGHTTIME HOURS
The hours between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, corporation, association or partnership.
SOURCE OF COMPLAINT
The location on the property adjacent to that property which contains the air conditioning unit or units and equipment or other types of mechanical equipment or apparatus which is the source of noise for the complaint. All noise measurements shall be taken at the property line of the complainant or within the property of said complainant.
[Added 12-13-1976 by Ord. No. 1649]
SPORADIC NOISE
Any noise which does not normally continue for a period of time necessary to obtain decibel readings in all frequency bands.
It shall be unlawful for any person in the operation of an air conditioning unit or units and equipment or other types of mechanical equipment or apparatus installed in or attached to buildings or located on premises appurtenant to buildings to make or produce excessive noise, thereby causing annoyance, inconvenience or detriment to the public or to any other person or persons. Noise shall be considered excessive if the sound pressure from the air-conditioning unit or units and equipment or other type of mechanical equipment or apparatus exceeds the limits hereinafter set forth.
A. 
During daytime hours, the maximum permissible sound pressure levels at specified points of measurement for continuous noise radiated from premises shall not exceed the following:
Sound Pressure Level
(decibels re 0.0002 microbar)
Frequency Band
(cycles per second)
Inside Table
Outside Table
20 – 75
73
76
75 – 150
66
69
150 – 300
60
64
300 – 600
55
59
600 – 1,200
52
57
1,200 – 2,400
50
55
2,400 – 4,800
48
53
4,800 – 10,000
47
52
B. 
During nighttime hours, the maximum permissible sound pressure levels at specified points of measurement for continuous noise radiated from premises shall not exceed the following:
Sound Pressure Level
(decibels re 0.0002 microbar)
Frequency Band
(cycles persecond)
Inside Table
Outside Table
20 – 75
69
76
75 – 150
62
69
150 – 300
56
64
300 – 600
50
59
600 – 1,200
47
57
1,200 – 2,400
45
55
2,400 – 4,800
43
53
4,800 – 10,000
42
52
C. 
When the source of complaint originates inside of a building or structure, the microphone shall be placed three feet from the nearest window in the room where the source of complaint originates and not less than three feet above the floor, in which case the inside table of sound pressure levels shall be used.
D. 
When the source of complaint originates outside, the microphone shall be placed at the source of the complaint but no closer than three feet to any wall and not less than three feet above the ground, in which case the outside table of sound-pressure levels shall be used.
E. 
If as a result of such test the air-conditioning unit and equipment or other mechanical equipment or apparatus is found to violate the provisions of this chapter, the operation thereof shall forthwith be discontinued and not be resumed unless and until proper corrections have been made therein, which shall first have been approved by the Director of Code Enforcement.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960]
No person shall create any sporadic noise which, when measured in the 600 to 1,200 cycles per second frequency band, exceeds a soundpressure level of 57 decibels during daylight hours or 52 decibels during nighttime hours.
Sound levels shall be measured with a sound-level meter and associated octave band analyzer manufactured according to standards prescribed by the American Standards Association.
A. 
Traffic noises, noises created by governmental units and noises created by emergency and civil defense activities shall be exempt from the application of this chapter.
B. 
Noises created by construction work and the repair and maintenance of any building or structure shall be exempt, but only during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
[Amended 6-13-1988 by Ord. No. 2019; 3-12-2012 by Ord. No. 2660]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, in addition to the other charges hereinbefore provided for each offense, upon summary conviction before any District Justice of the Peace, pay a fine not exceeding $1,000 and costs of prosecution; and in default of one payment of the fine and costs, the violator may be sentenced to the county jail for a term of not more than 90 days. Each and every day in which any person, firm or corporation shall be in violation of this ordinance shall constitute a separate offense.