Source: https://ecode360.com/6343356
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 01:57:42+00:00

Document:
§ 167-3 Declaration of findings and policy.
§ 167-4 Noise control officers.
§ 167-5 Maximum permissible sound levels.
§ 167-6 Restricted uses and activities.
§ 167-7 Enforcement; violations and penalties.
§ 167-8 Burglar alarms; music or sound amplification or reproduction equipment; fireworks.
§ 167-11 Violations and penalties.
Alarms — See Ch. 85.
Noise disturbances caused by animals — See Ch. 115.
The following words and terms, when used in this article, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Terms not defined in this article have the same meanings as those defined in N.J.A.C. 7:29.
As defined in NFPA 1123, large fireworks devices that are explosive materials intended for use in fireworks displays and designed to produce visible or audible effects by combustion, deflagration, or detonation, as set forth in 27 CFR 555, 49 CFR 172, and APA Standard 87-1, Standard for the Construction and Approval for Transportation of Fireworks, Novelties, and Theatrical Pyrotechnics.
Any work or action necessary to deliver essential public service, 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.
A properly functioning sound dissipative device or system for abating the sound of escaping gasses on equipment where such a device is part of the normal configuration of the equipment.
A commercial, residential, industrial or public service property having boilers, incinerators, elevators, automatic garage doors, air conditioners, laundry rooms, utility provisions, or health and recreational facilities, or other similar devices or areas, either in the interior or on the exterior of the building, which may be a source of elevated sound levels at another category on the same distinct parcel of land.
Employee of a local, county or regional health agency which is certified pursuant to the County Environmental Health Act (N.J.S.A. 26:3A2-21 et seq.) to perform noise enforcement activities; or a municipality with a department-approved Noise Control Ordinance and the employee has received noise enforcement training and is currently certified in noise enforcement. The employee must be acting within his or her jurisdiction and must be authorized to issue summons in order to be considered a noise control officer.
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 title, specific words, or the artist performing the song.
An audible sound from a fireworks device or shell.
A fireworks device or shell designed to produce an explosive sound as its primary effect.
Any day that is not a federal holiday, and beginning on Monday at 7:00 a.m. and ending on the following Friday at 6:00 p.m.
Beginning Friday at 6:00 p.m. and ending on the following Monday at 7:00 a.m.
Now, therefore, it is the policy of Franklin Township to prevent excessive sound that may jeopardize the health, welfare, or safety of the citizens or degrade the quality of life.
This article shall apply to the control of sound originating from sources within Franklin Township, Somerset County.
The provisions of this article shall be 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 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 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 to the procedures set forth in § 167-5B and C of this article and with the definition of "real property line" as contained herein.
Coordinate the noise control activities of all departments in Franklin Township and cooperate with all other public bodies and agencies to the extent practicable.
Review the actions of Franklin Township and advise of the effect, if any, of such actions on noise control.
Review public and private projects, subject to mandatory review or approval by other departments or boards, for compliance with this article.
Investigate and pursue possible violations of this article for sound levels which equal or exceed the sound levels set forth in Tables I and II, when measured at a receiving property located within the designated jurisdiction of the noise control officer, in accordance with § 167-7 below.
Cooperate with noise control officers of adjacent municipalities in enforcing one another's municipal noise ordinances.
No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any source of sound on any source property listed in § 167-2A 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.
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. 7:29-2.9(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 multi-dwelling-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 multi-dwelling-unit building. The allowable sound level standards for indoors are as shown in Tables I and II.
Impulsive sound. Between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., impulsive sound shall not exceed 80 decibels. Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., impulsive sound which occurs less than four times in any hour shall not equal or exceed 80 decibels. Impulsive sound which repeats four or more times in any hour shall be measured as impulsive sound and shall meet the requirements as shown in Table I.
Except as provided in Subsection B below, the provisions of this article 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, except as provided for in Subsection B below.
Noncommercial or nonindustrial power tools and landscaping and yard maintenance equipment shall not be operated between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., unless such activities can meet the applicable limits set forth in Tables I and II. All motorized equipment used in these activities shall be operated with a muffler. At all other times, the limits set forth in Tables I and II do not apply to noncommercial or nonindustrial power tools and landscaping and yard maintenance equipment.
Commercial and industrial power tools and landscaping and yard maintenance equipment, excluding emergency work, shall not be operated on a residential property or within 250 feet of a residential property line when operated on commercial or industrial property, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, or between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends or federal holidays, unless such activities can meet the limits set forth Tables I and II. In addition, commercial or industrial power tools and landscaping and yard maintenance equipment, excluding emergency work, utilized on commercial or industrial property shall meet the limits set forth in Tables I and II between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. All motorized equipment used in these activities shall be operated with a muffler. At all other times, the limits set forth in Tables I and II do not apply to commercial and industrial power tools and landscaping and yard maintenance equipment.
Construction and demolition activity, excluding emergency work, shall not be performed between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. weekdays, or between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends and federal holidays, unless such activities can meet the limits set forth in Tables I and II. All motorized equipment used in construction and demolition activity shall be operated with a muffler. At all other times, the limits set forth in Tables I and II do not apply to construction and demolition activities.
Motorized snowblowers, snow throwers, and lawn equipment with attached snowplows shall be operated at all times with a muffler. At all times, the limits set forth in Table I and II do not apply.
Electric generators shall be operated at all times with a muffler. At times when electric power is interrupted for reasons beyond the control of the property owner/tenant, the limits set forth in Tables 1 and II do not apply. At all other times, electric generators shall not be operated between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. weekdays, or between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends and federal holidays.
Editor's Note: With this ordinance, former Subsection B(5) was also renumbered as Subsection B(6).
Sound levels exceeding the limits as set forth in Table I and Table II shall be prohibited between residential units within the same multi-dwelling-unit building. Measurements shall be taken indoors as per § 167-5B and C.
Violation of any provision of this article shall be cause for an enforcement document to be issued to the violator by the noise control officer according to procedures set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.6. The recipient of an enforcement document shall be entitled to a hearing in the Municipal Court having jurisdiction to contest such action.
Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be subject to a civil penalty for each offense of not more than $2,000. If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it occurs shall constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense.
No provision of this article shall be construed to impair any common law or statutory cause of action, or legal remedy therefrom, or any person for injury or damage arising from any violation of this article or from other law.
Fireworks displays. In addition to complying with all of the requirements of the State of New Jersey Department of Labor and the New Jersey State Uniform Fire Code, all private fireworks displays in Franklin Township must comply with this chapter regarding the noise from the display.
Fireworks displays are not permitted to contain any devices or shells that contain reports.
Fireworks displays are not permitted to have a salute in the display.
Fireworks displays must be between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Editor’s Note: See N.J.A.C. 5:70-1 et seq.
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 enforcing officer need not determine title, specific words, or the artist performing the song.
The provisions of § 167-8 shall be enforced by the Department of Police and/or the Department of Health.
Any person who violates any provision of this article 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 offense.

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