[Added 7-6-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-10]
Whereas it is found that excessive sound and vibration are a
serious hazard to the public, health, safety, and welfare and the
quality of life; and technology exists by which excessive sound and
vibration may be substantially abated; and whereas the people have
a right to and should be ensured an environment free from excessive
sound and vibration that may jeopardize their health, safety or welfare
or degrade the quality of life; it is hereby declared the policy of
the Township to prevent excessive sound and vibration which may jeopardize
the health, safety and welfare of its citizens and degrade the quality
of life.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, 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 within the limits
of the Township.
A.
The following acts are hereby declared to be examples of unlawful
noise that annoy, disturb, injure, or endanger the comfort, repose,
health, peace and safety of others and are in violation of this article:
(1)
Radios; televisions; phonographs. The using, operating or permitting
to be played, used or operated any radio receiving set, television,
musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the
producing or reproducing of sound at any time, in such manner as to
disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of neighboring inhabitants [including
neighboring inhabitants in attached residential units sharing a common
wall(s)] or with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing
for the persons who are in the room, vehicle or chamber in which such
machine or device is operated and who are voluntary listeners thereto.
The operation of any such set, instrument, phonograph, machine or
device between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in such manner
as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the building,
structure or vehicle in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence
of a violation of this article.
(2)
Yelling; shouting. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing
on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m.
and 7:00 a.m., or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the
quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office, dwelling, hotel,
motel or other type of residence or of any persons in the vicinity.
(3)
Animals; birds. The keeping of any animals or birds which, by causing
frequent or long-continued noise, disturbs the comfort or repose of
any person in the vicinity.
(4)
Horns. The sounding of any horn or warning device on any automobile,
motorcycle, bus or other vehicle except when required by law or when
necessary to give timely warning of the approach of the vehicle or
as a warning of impending danger to persons driving other vehicles
or to persons upon the street. No person shall sound any horn or warning
device on any automobile, motorcycle, bus or other vehicle which emits
an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or for any unnecessary or unreasonable
period of time.
(5)
Exhaust. The discharge into the open air of the exhaust/engine noise
of any engine, stationary internal-combustion engine or motor vehicle,
motorcycle except through a muffler or other device which effectively
prevents loud or explosive noises therefrom.
(6)
The operating of landscape machinery including any noise-creating
blower or power fan or any internal-combustion engine, the operation
of which causes noise due to the explosion of operating gases or fluids,
unless the noise from such blower or fan is adequately muffled and
such engine is equipped with a muffler device sufficient to deaden
such noises. In no event shall such landscaping equipment or machines
be operated except between the hours of 8:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday; and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. through
8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday or any state or federal holiday.
(7)
Defect/modification in vehicle or load. The use of any automobile,
motorcycle or vehicle so out of repair, so loaded or specifically
modified in such manner as to create loud and unnecessary grating,
grinding, rattling, combustion or other noise.
(8)
Schools; courts; churches. The creation of any excessive noise on
any street adjacent to any school, institution of learning, church
or court while the same is in use, or which unreasonably interferes
with the working of such institution, provided that conspicuous signs
are displayed in such street indicating that the same is a school,
hospital or court street.
B.
The above enumeration is intended to give typical illustrations of
prohibited noise and shall not be construed as exclusive.
A.
The following are exempt from the noise regulations contained herein:
(1)
Sounds from any municipality-sponsored or -approved celebrations
or events.
(2)
Sounds from any police, fire, ambulance, or other emergency vehicles
in the discharge of their official duties, garbage trucks or such
other vehicles used for the removal of residential or commercial garbage,
together with the removal of snow and ice from Township and county
roadways and from residential, commercial and office properties located
within the Township.
(3)
Sounds emanating from the performance of any municipal, county or
state construction or improvements project(s).
(4)
Sound from bells and chimes when a part of religious observance or
service.
Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions
of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a
fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for a term not to
exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion
of the Judge. The continuation of such violation for each successive
day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons
allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished
as provided above for each separate offense.
