Source: https://www.ecode360.com/8040217
Timestamp: 2019-09-22 06:16:14
Document Index: 579382772

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158']

Township of Egg Harbor, NJ Noise
§ 158-1 Declaration of findings and policy; general applicability.
§ 158-5 Noise Control Officers and Investigators.
§ 158-6 Measurement protocols.
§ 158-7 Maximum permissible sound levels.
§ 158-8 Sound production devices.
§ 158-9 Restricted uses and activities.
§ 158-10 Motor vehicles.
§ 158-11 Enforcement; violations and penalties.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Egg Harbor 4-22-2015 by Ord. No. 11-2015.[1] Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
Alarm systems— See Ch. 60.
Dogs — See Ch. 97.
Peddlers and solicitors — See Ch. 129.
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 158, Noise, consisting of Art. I, Stationary Sources, adopted 10-14-1987 by Ord. No. 43-1987, as amended, and Art. II, Mobile Sources, adopted 10-14-1987 by Ord. No. 44-1987, as amended.
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, be it ordained, it is the policy of Township of Egg Harbor to prevent excessive sound that may jeopardize the health, welfare, or safety of the citizens or degrade the quality of life.
This chapter of the Township Code shall apply to the control of sound originating from sources within the Township of Egg Harbor.
A violation that is not the result of the purposeful, reckless or criminally negligent conduct of the alleged violation and/or the activity or condition constituting the violation has not been the subject of an enforcement action by any authorized local, county or state enforcement agency against the violator within the immediately preceding 12 months for the same or substantially similar violation.
Except as provided in §§ 158-9 and 158-10 below, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the exceptions listed at N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.5.
Construction and demolition activities are exempt from the sound level limits set forth in Tables I, II and III except as provided for in § 158-9 below.
Sound measurements made by a Noise Control Officer shall conform to the procedures set forth at N.J.A.C. 7:29-2, except that interior sound level measurements shall also conform with the procedures set forth § 158-6B of this chapter and with the definition of "real property line" as contained herein.
When conducting indoor sound level measurements across a real property line, the measurements shall be taken at least three feet from any wall, floor or ceiling, and all exterior doors and windows may, at the discretion of the investigator, be closed. The neighborhood residual sound level shall be measured in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:29-2.9(b) 2. When measuring total sound level, the configuration of the windows and doors shall be the same, and all sound sources within the dwelling unit must be shut off (e.g., television, stereo). Measurements shall not be taken in areas that receive only casual use, such as hallways, closets and bathrooms.
No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any source of sound on any source property listed in § 158-3A in such a manner as to create a sound level that equals or exceeds the sound level limits set forth in Tables I, II or III when measured at or within the real property line of any of the receiving properties listed in Tables I, II or III, except as specified in § 158-6B.
Note: Table II shall only apply when the source and the receptor are separated by a real property line and they also share a common or abutting wall, floor or ceiling, or are on the same parcel of property
No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any sound production device in such a manner that the sound crosses a property line and raises the total sound levels above the neighborhood residual sound level by more than the permissible sound level limits set forth in Table IV when measured within the residence of a complainant according to the measurement protocol in § 158-6B of this chapter. These sound level measurements shall be conducted with the sound level meter set for "C" weighting, "fast" response.
Weeknights 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., and Weekend Nights, 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Excluding emergency work, power tools, home maintenance tools, landscaping and/or yard maintenance equipment used by a residential property owner or tenant shall not be operated between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless such activities can meet the applicable limits set forth in Tables I, II or III. At all other times, the limits set forth in Tables I, II or III do not apply. All motorized equipment used in these activities shall be operated with a muffler and/or sound reduction device.
Excluding emergency work, power tools, landscaping and/or yard maintenance equipment used by nonresidential operators (e.g., commercial operators, public employees) shall not be operated on a residential, commercial, industrial or public (e.g., golf course, parks, athletic fields) property between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on weekdays, or between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekends or federal holidays, unless such activities can meet the limits set forth in Tables I, II or III. At all other times the limits set forth in Tables I, II or III do not apply. All motorized equipment used in these activities shall be operated with a muffler and/or sound reduction device.
All construction and demolition activity, excluding emergency work, shall not be performed between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and weekends and federal holiday's, unless such activities can meet the limits set forth in Tables I, II or III. At all other times the limits set forth in Tables I, II or III do not apply. All motorized equipment used in construction and demolition activity shall be operated with a muffler and/or sound reduction device.
It shall be unlawful for any property owner or tenant to allow any domesticated or caged animal to create a sound across a real property line which unreasonably disturbs or interferes with the peace, comfort, and repose of any resident or to refuse or intentionally fail to cease the unreasonable noise when ordered to do so by a Noise Control Officer or Noise Control Investigator. Prima facie evidence of a violation of this section shall include but not be limited to:
No motorcycle shall be operated stationary or in motion unless it has a muffler that complies with and is labeled in accordance with the Federal Noise Regulations under 40 CFR 205.
Violation of any provision of this chapter shall be cause for a notice of violation (NOV) or a notice of penalty assessment (NOPA) document to be issued to the violator by the Noise Control Officer of Noise Control Investigator.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty for each offense of not more than the maximum penalty pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, which is $2,000 as of December 2014. If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it occurs shall constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense.
If the violation is deemed by the Noise Control Officer or Noise Control Investigator to be a minor violation (as defined in § 158-2 of this chapter), an NOV shall be issued to the violator.
The NOV shall identify the time period (up to 90 days), pursuant to the Grace Period Law, N.J.S.A. 13:1D-125 et seq. Where the responsible party's/violator's voluntary action can prevent a formal enforcement action with penalties issued by the Atlantic County Health Department. It shall be noted that the NOV does not constitute a formal enforcement action, a final agency action or a final legal determination that a violation has occurred. Therefore, the NOV may not be appealed or contested.
If the violation is deemed by the Noise Control Officer or Noise Control Investigator to be a non-minor violation, the violator shall be notified that if the violation is not immediately corrected a NOPA with a civil penalty of not more than the maximum penalty allowed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, which is $2,000 as of December 2014, will be issued. If a non-minor violation is immediately corrected, a without a civil penalty shall still be issued to document the violation. If the violation occurs again (within 12 months of the initial violation), a NOPA shall be issued regardless of whether the violation is immediately corrected or not.