[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Lower Paxton 3-10-2020 by Ord. No. 20-02. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Lower Paxton Township Noise
Ordinance."
A.
No principal or accessory use, or operations or activities on its
lot, shall generate a sound level exceeding the limits established
in the table below, when measured at the specified locations:
|
Sound Level Limits by Receiving Land Use/District
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Land Use or Zoning District Receiving the Noise
|
Hours/Days
|
Maximum Sound Level
| |
|
1.
|
At a lot line of a residential use in a residential district
|
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. other than Sundays, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving
Day, New Year's Day, Labor Day and Memorial Day
|
60 dBA*
|
|
9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. plus all of the following days: Sundays,
Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's, Easter Sunday, Labor Day
and Memorial Day
|
55 dBA
| ||
|
2.
|
Lot line of a principal residential use in a commercial or industrial
district
|
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. other than Sundays, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving
Day, New Year's Day, Labor Day and Memorial Day
|
65 dBA
|
|
9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. plus all of the following days: Sundays,
Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's, Easter Sunday, Labor Day
and Memorial Day
|
60 dBA
| ||
|
3.
|
Any lot line other than "1" or "2"
|
All times and days
|
70 dBA
|
|
*
|
Note: "dBA" means "A" weighted decibel.
|
B.
The maximum permissible sound level limits set forth in the above
table shall not apply to any of the following noise sources:
(1)
Sound needed to alert people about an emergency.
(2)
Repair or installation of utilities or construction of structures,
sidewalks or streets between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
except for emergency repairs which are not restricted by time.
(3)
Lawn mowers, snowblowers, leaf blowers, and household power tools
between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
(4)
Agricultural activities, including permitted raising of livestock,
but not exempting a commercial kennel.
(5)
Public celebrations specifically authorized by the Township Supervisors
or a county, state or federal government agency or body.
(6)
Unamplified human voices.
(7)
Routine ringing of bells and chimes by a place of worship or municipal
clock.
(8)
Vehicles operating on a public street, railroads and aircraft.
This chapter shall be enforced by action brought before a Magisterial
District Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of
summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which violates or permits the
violation of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding,
be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for
a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such
violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a
separate offense. Each section of this chapter that is violated shall
also consitiute a separate offense.
