Source: https://ecode360.com/8964006
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 16:13:27+00:00

Document:
§ 142-3 Declaration of findings and policy.
§ 142-4 Noise control officers.
§ 142-5 Maximum permissible sound levels.
§ 142-6 Restricted uses and activities.
§ 142-7 Enforcement; violations and penalties.
Any work or action necessary to deliver essential public 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.
Any vehicle that is propelled other than by human or an power on land.
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 sound that can be detected by a person using his or her unaided hearing facilities. As an example, if the sound source under investigation is a portable or personal vehicular sound-amplification or reproduction device, the detection of the rhythmic bass component of the music is sufficient to verify plainly audible sound. The noise control officer need not determine the title, specific words or the artist performing the song.
Whereas, excessive sound is a serious hazard to the public health, welfare, safety and the quality of life; and whereas, a substantial body of science and technology exists by which excessive sound may be substantially abated; and whereas, the people have a right to, and should be ensured of an environment free from excessive sound; now, therefore, it is the policy of the Township of Bridgewater to prevent excessive sound that may jeopardize the health, welfare or safety of the citizens or degrade the quality of life.
This chapter shall apply to the control of sound originating from sources within the Township of Bridgewater.
The provisions of this chapter shall he enforced by noise control officers. A person shall be qualified to be a noise control officer if the person meets the criteria set forth in the definition above and completes, at a frequency specified by the Department in N.J.A.C. 7:29-2.11, a noise certification course and recertification course which are offered by the Department of Environmental Sciences of Cook College, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey or any other noise certification course or recertification course which is offered by an accredited university and approved by the Department.
Sound measurements made by a noise control officer shall conform to the procedures set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:29-2, except that interior sound level measurements shall also conform with the procedures set forth in § 142-5B and C of this regulation and with the definition of "real property line" as contained herein.
No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit the operation of any source of sound on any source property listed in § 142-2A above in such a manner as to create a sound level that equals or exceeds the sound level limits set forth in Tables I and II when measured at or within the real property line of any of the receiving properties listed in Tables I and II, except as specified in Subsection B below.
Editor's Note: Table I and II are included at the end of this chapter.
When measuring total sound or residual sound within a multi-use property, or within a residential unit when the property line between it and the source property is a common wall, all exterior doors and windows shall be closed and the measurements shall be taken in the center of the room most affected by the noise. Residual sound shall be measured in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:29-9(b)2. When measuring total sound or residual sound, 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.
Indoor measurements shall only be taken if the sound source is on or within the same property as the receiving property, as in the case of a multi-use property (e.g., sound generated within a commercial unit of a multi-use property building and received within a residential unit of the same building) or multidwelling unit building. In addition, indoor measurements shall be taken if the property line between the receiving property and the source property is a common wall, such as in a multidwelling unit building. The allowable sound level standards for indoors are as shown in Tables I and II.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the exceptions listed at N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.4.
Construction and demolition activities are exempt from the sound level limits set forth in Tables I and II. These activities are regulated under separate municipal ordinance.
Violation of any provision of this chapter shall be cause for an enforcement document to be issued to the violator by the noise control officer according to procedures set forth at N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.6. The recipient of such an enforcement document shall be entitled to a hearing in Municipal Court having jurisdiction to contest such action.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty for each offense of not more than $3,000. If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it occurs shall constitute an additional, separate and distinct violation.

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