It shall be unlawful for any person to make or continue, or
cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise
or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the
comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others, or to create any
unreasonably loud, disturbing and unnecessary noise of such character,
intensity or duration as is detrimental to the life or health of any
individual or persons within the limits of the Borough of Sharon Hill.
The following acts are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary
noises in violation of this chapter, but such enumeration shall not
be construed to be a limitation or be deemed to be exclusive:
A. The use of a sound truck with sound amplification in operation.
B. The sounding of any horn or signaling devices on any vehicle except
as a danger warning, or the sounding of any horn or signaling device
for any unnecessary and unreasonable period of time in times of traffic
holdups, or the use of any horn, whistle or other device operated
by engine exhaust.
C. The playing of any radio, phonograph, television, musical instrument
or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound
in such manner or volume as to unreasonably annoy or disturb others
in the vicinity, particularly during the hours between 11:00 p.m.
and 7:00 a.m.
D. The use or permission to use on the public streets of the Borough
any loudspeaker, amplifier, radio, phonograph or other machine or
device for the purpose of commercial advertising or attracting the
attention of the public.
E. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing in the public streets,
particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., so as
to annoy and disturb the quiet comfort or repose of persons in any
office, dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, or of any persons
in the vicinity.
F. The keeping of any animal or bird which causes frequent, long-continued
or disturbing noises.
G. The blowing of any locomotive whistle or whistle attached to any
stationary boiler, except to give notice of the time to begin or stop
work or as a warning of distress, fire or danger or upon the request
of proper Borough authorities.
H. The discharge into the open air of the exhaust of any steam engine,
stationary internal-combustion engine, motor vehicle or motorboat
engine, except through a muffler or other device which will effectively
prevent loud or explosive noises therefrom.
I. The use of any automobile, motorcycle or vehicle so out of repair,
so loaded or in such manner as to create loud and unnecessary grating,
grinding, rattling or other noise.
J. The creation of a loud and excessive noise in connection with the
loading or unloading of any vehicle or the opening and destruction
of bales, boxes, crates and containers.
K. The erection (including excavation), demolition, alteration or repair
of any building other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00
p.m. on weekdays, except in cases of urgent necessity in the interest
of public health or safety; provided, however, that a permit therefor
has been obtained from the Building Inspector. Such permit may be
granted while the emergency continues for a period not to exceed three
days and may be renewed for a period of three days or less.
L. The creation of any excessive or disturbing noise on any street adjacent
to any school, institution of learning, church or court, provided
conspicuous signs are displayed in such streets indicating the proximity
of such institutions.
M. The shouting and crying of peddlers, hawkers and vendors which disturb
the peace and quiet of the neighborhood.
N. The operation, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., of any
pile driver, well driller, steam shovel, pneumatic hammer, derrick,
steam or electric hoist or other appliances, the use of which is attended
by loud or unusual noise.
O. The operation of any blower, fan or any internal-combustion engine
resulting in noise from the explosion of operating gases or fluids,
unless such blower, fan or engine is equipped with a sound-deadening
muffler.
P. The use of any drum, loudspeaker, bell or other instrument to attract
attention to any performance or any sale or display of merchandise.
In residential or commercial districts, when measured at a point
25 feet distant from an establishment wherein a noise originates or
at the lot line, whichever is closer, and in manufacturing districts,
when measured at any point on the boundary of the nearest residential
district:
A. The sound-pressure level radiated continuously from a facility between
the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. shall not exceed the following
in any octave band of frequency.
|
Frequency Band
(cycles per second)
|
Sound-Pressure Level
(in decibels re 0.0002 microbar)
|
---|
|
20 to 75
|
69
|
|
75 to 150
|
54
|
|
150 to 300
|
47
|
|
300 to 600
|
41
|
|
600 to 1,200
|
37
|
|
1,200 to 2,400
|
34
|
|
2,400 to 4,800
|
31
|
|
4,800 to 9,600
|
28
|
B. If the noise is not smooth and continuous and is not radiated at
nighttime, one or more of the following corrections shall be added
to or subtracted from each of the decibel levels given above.
|
Types of Operation or Character of Noise
|
Correction
(in decibels)
|
---|
|
Daytime operation only
|
+ 5
|
|
Noise source operates less than 20% of the time
|
+ 5*
|
|
Noise source operates less than 5% of the time
|
+ 10*
|
|
Noise source operates less than 1% of the time
|
+ 15*
|
|
Noise of impulsive character (hammering, etc.)
|
- 5
|
|
Noise of periodic character (hum, screech, etc.)
|
- 5
|
|
*
|
NOTE: Apply one of these corrections only.
|
C. The sound-pressure level shall be measured with a sound-level meter
and an octave-band analyzer that conforms to the specifications published
by the American Standards Association, New York, New York.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to apply to church
bells or chimes.
[Amended 7-14-1988 by Ord. No. 1180]
Any person who shall be convicted of a violation of any of the
provisions of this chapter before any Magisterial District Judge shall
be sentenced to pay a maximum fine as provided from time to time by
state statute, together with costs of prosecution, or to imprisonment
in the county jail for a term not to exceed 30 days, or both.