[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.