[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Mine Hill as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Alarm systems — See Ch. 132.
[Adopted 11-19-1998 by Ord. No. 640-98; amended in its entirety 6-4-2015 by Ord. No. 18-15]
The following words and terms, when used in this article, shall
have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise. Terms not defined in this article have the same meanings
as those defined in N.J.A.C. 7:29.
Any site preparation, assembly, erection, repair, alteration
or similar action of buildings or structures.
The sound level as measured using the "C" weighting network
with a sound-level meter meeting the standards set forth in ANSI S1.4-1983
or its successors. The unit of reporting is dB(C). The "C" weighting
network is more sensitive to low frequencies than is the "A" weighting
network.
Any dismantling, destruction or removal of buildings, structures,
or roadways.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Any work or action necessary at the site of an emergency
to restore or deliver essential services, including, but not limited
to, repairing water, gas, electricity, telephone, sewer facilities,
or public transportation facilities, removing fallen trees on public
rights-of-way, dredging navigational waterways, or abating life-threatening
conditions or a state of emergency declared by a governing agency.
Either a single-pressure peak or a single burst (multiple-pressure
peaks) that has a duration of less than one second.
A violation that is not the result of the purposeful, reckless
or criminally negligent conduct of the alleged violator; and/or the
activity or condition constituting the violation has not been the
subject of an enforcement action by any authorized local, county or
state enforcement agency against the violator within the immediately
preceding 12 months for the same or substantially similar violation.
Any vehicle that is propelled other than by human or animal
power on land.
A properly functioning sound-dissipative device or system
for abating the sound on engines or equipment where such device is
part of the normal configuration of the equipment.
Any building comprising two or more dwelling units, including
but not limited to apartments, condominiums, co-ops, multiple-family
houses, townhouses, and attached residences.
Any distinct parcel of land that is used for more than one
category of activity. Examples include, but are not limited to:
A commercial, residential, industrial or public service property
having boilers, incinerators, elevators, automatic garage doors, air
conditioners, laundry rooms, utility provisions, or health and recreational
facilities, or other similar devices or areas, either in the interior
or on the exterior of the building, which may be a source of elevated
sound levels at another category on the same distinct parcel of land;
or
A building, which is both commercial (usually on the ground
floor) and residential property, located above, below or otherwise
adjacent to.
An employee of a municipality, county or regional health
commission that has a Department-approved model noise control ordinance
and the employee has not received noise enforcement training as specified
by the Department in N.J.A.C. 7:29. However, they are knowledgeable
about their model noise ordinance and enforcement procedures. A Noise
Control Investigator may only enforce sections of the ordinance that
do not require the use of a sound-level meter. The employee must be
acting within his or her designated jurisdiction and must be authorized
to issue a summons.
An employee of a local, county or regional health agency
which is certified pursuant to the County Environmental Health Act
(N.J.S.A. 26:3A2-21 et seq.) to perform noise enforcement activities
or an employee of a municipality with a Department-approved model
noise control ordinance. All NCOs must receive noise enforcement training
as specified by the Department in N.J.A.C. 7:29 and be currently certified
in noise enforcement. The employee must be acting within his or her
designated jurisdiction and must be authorized to issue a summons.
Any sound that can be detected by a NCO or an NCI using his
or her unaided hearing faculties of normal acuity. As an example,
if the sound source under investigation is a portable or vehicular
sound-amplification or reproduction device, the detection of the rhythmic
bass component of the music is sufficient to verify plainly audible
sound. The NCO or NCI need not determine the title, specific words,
or the artist performing the song.
Any street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, sidewalk, alley
or easement that is owned, leased, or controlled by a nongovernmental
entity.
Any street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, sidewalk, alley
or easement that is owned, leased, or controlled by a governmental
entity.
Any real property or structures thereon that are owned, leased,
or controlled by a governmental entity.
Either a) the vertical boundary that separates one parcel
of property (i.e., lot and block) from another residential or commercial
property; b) the vertical and horizontal boundaries of a dwelling
unit that is part of a multi-dwelling-unit building; or c) on a multi-use
property as defined herein, the vertical or horizontal boundaries
between the two portions of the property on which different categories
of activity are being performed (e.g., if the multi-use property is
a building which is residential upstairs and commercial downstairs,
then the real property line would be the interface between the residential
area and the commercial area, or if there is an outdoor sound source
such as an HVAC unit on the same parcel of property, the boundary
line is the exterior wall of the receiving unit). Note: This definition
shall not apply to a commercial source and a commercial receptor which
are both located on the same parcel of property (e.g., a strip mall).
Any device whose primary function is the production of sound,
including but not limited to any musical instrument, loudspeaker,
radio, television, digital or analog music player, public address
system or sound-amplifying equipment.
Any device, such as a muffler, baffle, shroud, jacket, enclosure,
isolator, or dampener, provided by the manufacturer with the equipment,
or that is otherwise required, that mitigates the sound emissions
of the equipment.
Any day that is not a federal holiday, and beginning on Monday
at 7:00 a.m. and ending on the following Friday at 6:00 p.m.
Beginning on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and ending on the following
Monday at 7:00 a.m.
A.
This article applies to sound from the following property categories:
B.
This article applies to sound received at the following property
categories:
C.
Sound from stationary emergency signaling devices shall be regulated
in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.4, except that the testing of the
electromechanical functioning of a stationary emergency signaling
device shall not meet or exceed 10 seconds.
B.
Sound-production devices required or sanctioned under the Americans
With Disabilities Act (ADA), FEMA or other government agencies to
the extent that they comply with the noise requirement of the enabling
legislation or regulation. Devices which are exempted under N.J.A.C.
7:29-1.5 shall continue to be exempted.
A.
Noise Control Officers shall have the authority within their designated
jurisdiction to investigate suspected violations of any section of
this article and pursue enforcement activities.
B.
Noise Control Investigators shall have the authority within their
designated jurisdiction to investigate suspected violations of any
section of this article that do not require the use of a sound-level
meter (i.e., plainly audible, times of day and/or distance determinations)
and pursue enforcement activities.
C.
Noise Control Officers and Investigators may cooperate with NCOs
and NCIs of an adjacent municipality in enforcing one another's
municipal noise ordinances.
A.
Sound measurements made by a Noise Control Officer shall conform to the procedures set forth at N.J.A.C. 7:29-2, except that interior sound-level measurements shall also conform with the procedures set forth in Subsection B of this section and with the definition of "real property line" as contained herein.
B.
When conducting indoor sound-level measurements across a real property
line, the measurements shall be taken at least three feet from any
wall, floor or ceiling, and all exterior doors and windows may, at
the discretion of the investigator, be closed. The neighborhood residual
sound level shall be measured in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:29-2.9(b)2.
When measuring total sound level, the configuration of the windows
and doors shall be the same, and all sound sources within the dwelling
unit must be shut off (e.g., television, stereo). Measurements shall
not be taken in areas which receive only casual use such as hallways,
closets and bathrooms.
A.
No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any source of sound on any source property listed in § 344-2A above in such a manner as to create a sound level that equals or exceeds the sound-level limits set forth in Table I, II or III when measured at or within the real property line of any of the receiving properties listed in Table I, II or III, except as specified in § 344-3B.
B.
Impulsive sound. Between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., impulsive sound
shall not equal or exceed 80 decibels. Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00
a.m., impulsive sound which occurs less than four times in any hour
shall not equal or exceed 80 decibels. Impulsive sound which repeats
four or more times in any hour shall be measured as continuous sound
and shall meet the requirements as shown in Tables I and II.
Table I
Maximum Permissible A-Weighted Sound Levels When Measured
Outdoors
| ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Receiving Property Category
|
Residential Property, or Residential Portion of a Multi-Use
Property
|
Commercial Facility, Public Service Facility, Nonresidential
Portion of a Multi-Use Property, or Community Service Facility
| ||
Time
|
7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
|
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
|
24 hours
| |
Maximum A-weighted sound-level standard, dB
|
65
|
50
|
65
|
Table II
Maximum Permissible A-Weighted Sound Levels When Measured
Indoors
| ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Receiving Property Category
|
Residential Property, or Residential Portion of a Multi-Use
Property
|
Commercial Facility, Public Service Facility, Nonresidential
Portion of a Multi-Use Property, or Community Service Facility
| ||
Time
|
7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
|
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
|
24 hours
| |
Maximum A-weighted sound-level standard, dB
|
55
|
40
|
55
|
NOTES: Table II shall only apply when the source
and the receptor are separated by a real property line and they also
share a common or abutting wall, floor or ceiling, or are on the same
parcel of property.
|
Table III
Maximum Permissible Octave Band Sound-Pressure
Levels in Decibels
| ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Receiving Property Category
|
Residential Property, or Residential Portion
of a Multi-Use Property
|
Residential Property, or Residential Portion
of a Multi-Use Property
|
Commercial Facility, Public Service Facility,
Nonresidential Portion of a Multi-Use Property, or Community Service
Facility
|
Commercial Facility or Nonresidential Portion
of a Multi-Use Property
| ||
Outdoors
|
Indoors
|
Outdoors
|
Indoors
| |||
Octave Band Center Frequency
(Hz)
|
Octave Band Sound-Pressure Level
(dB)
|
Octave Band Sound-Pressure Level
(dB)
|
Octave Band Sound-Pressure Level
(dB)
|
Octave Band Sound-Pressure Level
(dB)
| ||
Time
|
7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
|
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
|
7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
|
10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
|
24 hours
|
24 hours
|
31.5
|
96
|
86
|
86
|
76
|
96
|
86
|
63
|
82
|
71
|
72
|
61
|
82
|
72
|
125
|
74
|
61
|
64
|
51
|
74
|
64
|
250
|
67
|
53
|
57
|
43
|
67
|
57
|
500
|
63
|
48
|
53
|
38
|
63
|
53
|
1,000
|
60
|
45
|
50
|
35
|
60
|
50
|
2,000
|
57
|
42
|
47
|
32
|
57
|
47
|
4,000
|
55
|
40
|
45
|
30
|
55
|
45
|
8,000
|
53
|
38
|
43
|
28
|
53
|
43
|
NOTES: When octave measurements are made,
the sound from the source must be constant in level and character.
If octave band sound-pressure level variations exceed plus or minus
two dB in the bands containing the principal source frequencies, discontinue
the measurement.
|
No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any sound-production device in such a manner that the sound crosses a property line and raises the total sound levels above the neighborhood residual sound level by more than the permissible sound-level limits set forth in Table IV when measured within the residence of a complainant according to the measurement protocol in § 344-5B of this article. These sound-level measurements shall be conducted with the sound-level meter set for "C" weighting, "fast" response.
Table IV
Maximum Permissible Increase in Total Sound Levels Within
a Residential Property
| |
---|---|
Weeknights, 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; Weekend Nights, 11:00
p.m. to 9:00 a.m.
|
All Other Times
|
3 dB(C)
|
6 dB(C)
|
The following standards shall apply to the activities or sources
of sound set forth below:
A.
Excluding emergency work, power tools, home maintenance tools, landscaping
and/or yard maintenance equipment used by a residential property owner
or tenant shall not be operated between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and
8:00 a.m., unless such activities can meet the applicable limits set
forth in Table I, II or III. At all other times, the limits set forth
in Table I, II or III do not apply. All motorized equipment used in
these activities shall be operated with a muffler and/or sound-reduction
device.
B.
Excluding emergency work, power tools, landscaping and/or yard maintenance
equipment used by nonresidential operators (e.g., commercial operators,
public employees) shall not be operated on a residential, commercial,
industrial or public (e.g., golf courses, parks, athletic fields)
property between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. on weekdays,
or between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends or federal
holidays, unless such activities can meet the limits set forth in
Table I, II or III. At all other times, the limits set forth in Table
I, II or III do not apply. All motorized equipment used in these activities
shall be operated with a muffler and/or sound-reduction device.
C.
All construction and demolition activity, excluding emergency work,
shall not be performed between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
on weekdays, or between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends
and federal holidays, unless such activities can meet the limits set
forth in Table I, II or III. At all other times, the limits set forth
in Table I, II or III do not apply. All motorized equipment used in
construction and demolition activity shall be operated with a muffler
and/or sound-reduction device.
D.
Motorized snow removal equipment shall be operated with a muffler
and/or a sound-reduction device when being used for snow removal.
At all other times, the limits set forth in Tables I, II or III do
not apply.
E.
All interior and exterior burglar alarms of a building or motor vehicle
must be activated in such a manner that the burglar alarm terminates
its operation within five minutes for continuous airborne sound and
15 minutes for intermittent sound after it has been activated. At
all other times, the limits set forth in Table I, II or III do not
apply.
F.
Self-contained, portable, nonvehicular music or sound-production
devices shall not be operated on a public space or public right-of-way
in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet
in any direction from the operator between the hours of 8:00 a.m.
and 10:00 p.m. Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., sound,
operated on a public space or public right-of-way, from such equipment
shall not be plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet in any direction
from the operator.
G.
Noise by dogs or other animals.
(1)
It shall be unlawful for any property owner or tenant to allow any
domesticated or caged animal to create a sound across a real property
line which unreasonably disturbs or interferes with the peace, comfort,
and repose of any resident, or to refuse or intentionally fail to
cease the unreasonable noise when ordered to do so by a Noise Control
Officer or Noise Control Investigator. Prima facie evidence of a violation
of this section shall include but not be limited to:
(a)
Vocalizing (howling, yelping, barking, squawking, etc.) for five
minutes without interruption, defined as an average of four or more
vocalizations per minute in that period; or
(b)
Vocalizing for 20 minutes intermittently, defined as an average of
two vocalizations or more per minute in that period.
(2)
It is an affirmative defense under this subsection that the dog or
other animal was intentionally provoked to bark or make any other
noise.
Violations of each subsection of this section shall be considered
purposeful and therefore nonminor violations.
A.
No person shall remove or render inoperative, or cause to be removed
or rendered inoperative or less effective than originally equipped,
other than for the purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement,
any device or element of design incorporated in any motor vehicle
for the purpose of noise control. No person shall operate a motor
vehicle or motorcycle which has been so modified. A vehicle not meeting
these requirements shall be deemed in violation of this provision
if it is operated stationary or in motion in any public space or public
right-of-way.
B.
No motorcycle shall be operated stationary or in motion unless it
has a muffler that complies with and is labeled in accordance with
the Federal Noise Regulations under 40 CFR Part 205.
C.
Personal or commercial vehicular music amplification or reproduction
equipment shall not be operated in such a manner that it is plainly
audible at distance of 25 feet in any direction from the operator
between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
D.
Personal or commercial vehicular music amplification or reproduction
equipment shall not be operated in such a manner that is plainly audible
at a distance of 50 feet in any direction from the operator between
the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
A.
Violation of any provision of this article shall be cause for a notice
of violation (NOV) or a notice of penalty assessment (NOPA) document
to be issued to the violator by the Noise Control Officer or Noise
Control Investigator.
B.
Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be subject
to a civil penalty for each offense of not more than the maximum penalty
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, which is $2,000 as of December 2014.
If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which
it occurs shall constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense.
C.
Upon identification of a violation of this article, the Noise Control
Officer or Noise Control Investigator shall issue an enforcement document
to the violator. The enforcement document shall identify the condition
or activity that constitutes the violation and the specific provision
of this article that has been violated. It shall also indicate whether
the violator has a period of time to correct the violation before
a penalty is sought.
D.
If the violation is deemed by the Noise Control Officer or Noise Control Investigator to be a minor violation (as defined in § 344-1 of this article) a NOV shall be issued to the violator.
(1)
The document shall indicate that the purpose of the NOV is intended
to serve as a notice to warn the responsible party/violator of the
violation conditions in order to provide them with an opportunity
to voluntarily investigate the matter and voluntarily take corrective
action to address the identified violation.
(2)
The NOV shall identify the time period (up to 90 days), pursuant
to the Grace Period Law, N.J.S.A. 13:1D-125 et seq., where the responsible
party's/violator's voluntary action can prevent a formal
enforcement action with penalties issued by the Health Department.
It shall be noted that the NOV does not constitute a formal enforcement
action, a final agency action or a final legal determination that
a violation has occurred. Therefore, the NOV may not be appealed or
contested.
E.
If the violation is deemed by the Noise Control Officer or Noise
Control Investigator to be a nonminor violation, the violator shall
be notified that if the violation is not immediately corrected, a
NOPA with a civil penalty of not more than the maximum penalty allowed
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, which is $2,000 as of December 2014,
will be issued. If a nonminor violation is immediately corrected,
a NOV without a civil penalty shall still be issued to document the
violation. If the violation occurs again (within 12 months of the
initial violation), a NOPA shall be issued regardless of whether the
violation is immediately corrected or not.
F.
The violator may request from the Noise Control Officer or Noise
Control Investigator an extension of the compliance deadline in the
enforcement action. The Noise Control Officer or Noise Control Investigator
shall have the option to approve any reasonable request for an extension
(not to exceed 180 days) if the violator can demonstrate that a good
faith effort has been made to achieve compliance. If an extension
is not granted and the violation continues to exist after the grace
period ends, a NOPA shall be issued.
G.
The recipient of a NOPA shall be entitled to a hearing in a municipal
court having jurisdiction to contest such action.
H.
The Noise Control Officer or Noise Control Investigator may seek
injunctive relief if the responsible party does not remediate the
violation within the period of time specified in the NOPA issued.
I.
Any claim for a civil penalty may be compromised and settled based
on the following factors:
[Adopted 10-6-2005 by Ord. No. 7-05]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The use or operation of any mechanical exhaust device designed
to aid in the braking, decompression or deceleration of any motor
vehicle which results in excessive, loud, unusual or explosive noise
from such vehicle.
It shall be unlawful for the driver of any motor vehicle to
use or operate, or cause to be used or operated, at any time and on
any street within the Township of Mine Hill, any mechanical exhaust
or decompression device which results in the practice known as "engine
braking."
Noise caused by the application of engine braking which is effectively
muffled, or if the application is necessary for the health, safety
and welfare of the community, or noise created by emergency equipment
for emergency purposes, are exempt from the provisions of this article.
Vehicles operating on State Highway Route 46 are exempt from the provisions
of this article.
The Township is hereby authorized to post signs at reasonable
locations within the Township indicating the prohibition of engine
braking.
Upon a conviction of any violation of this article, such person
shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,250 or by imprisonment
for a period not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.