[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park 4-25-1972 (Ch. 137 of the 1985 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Animals — See Ch. 123.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 276.
The creation of any unreasonable, loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise within the Village is hereby prohibited. There is further prohibited any noise of such character, intensity or duration as is detrimental to the life or health of any individual.
[Amended 3-26-1991 by Ord. No. 5-91]
A. 
Operation of equipment.
(1) 
No individual, business entity or corporation shall operate in any manner whatsoever a pile driver, bulldozer, steam shovel or similar equipment at all on Sundays and on weekdays only between the hours from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Such equipment shall not be operated during any other hours whatsoever, except in the case of emergency or in the interest of public safety and welfare, and then only with a permit from the Commissioner of Public Safety or the Chief of Police or the duly authorized person in charge of the Police Department in the absence of the Commissioner of Public Safety or the Chief of Police.
(2) 
No individual, business entity or corporation shall operate in any manner whatsoever any mechanical or power equipment, such as a mechanical saw, lawn mower, tools or other devices, except between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays and from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sundays, except in the case of emergency or in the interest of public safety and welfare, and then only with a permit from the Commissioner of Public Safety or Chief of Police or the duly authorized head of the Police Department in the absence of the Commissioner of Public Safety or the Chief of Police.
B. 
The doing of any of the following acts so as to cause a loud, disturbing or unnecessary noise is prohibited. Such acts shall be deemed to be particularly disturbing when carried on between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
(1) 
The sounding of any horn or other signal device on any motor vehicle.
(2) 
The keeping of any animal or bird which shall emit frequent or long-continuing noises.
(3) 
The shouting, ringing of bells and crying of peddlers, hawkers, vendors, solicitors and canvassers.
(4) 
The use of any sound truck, loudspeaker, sound amplifier or other such instrument, except when permitted by a permit obtained from the Commissioner of Public Safety in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be established by him.
(5) 
The loud playing of any radio, television, phonograph or musical instrument.
C. 
The acts enumerated hereinbefore shall not be deemed to be exclusive.
A. 
Noise radiated over a measurable period of time of not less than two minutes from a residence, business or other establishment shall not exceed the following levels:
(1) 
Sixty dBA between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and 45 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. when measured at any point on a complainant's property.
(2) 
Fifty dBA between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and 40 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. when measured at the interior of the complainant's building.
B. 
Noises incapable of being so measured, such as those of an irregular and intermittent nature, shall be controlled so as not to destroy the quiet or repose of others in the neighborhood.
C. 
All sound-pressure levels shall be measured with appropriate acoustical measuring equipment which meets all current applicable and pertinent standards of the United States Standards Institute of New York.
There shall be exempt from the prohibitions of §§ 254-1 and 254-2 the following:
A. 
Sounds created by police, fire, ambulance or other civil defense emergency apparatus and emergency activities.
B. 
Normal traffic sounds from any automobile, motorcycle, bus, streetcar or other vehicle as regulated by the statutes of New Jersey and the Director of Motor Vehicles of the state.
[Added 3-26-1991 by Ord. No. 5-91[1]]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable, upon conviction, as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, General Penalty.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).