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"Good Neighbors Keep Their Noise to Themselves"

North Plainfield, NJ Nuisance Ordinance
(NPC posted this June 2004)

BOROUGH OF NORTH PLAINFIELD CODE

3-7 DISORDERLY CONDUCT

     3-7.1 Loud Playing of Radios, Musical Instruments or Other Devices Prohibited. No person shall play, use, operate or permit to be played, used or operated, a radio receiving set, vehicle radio, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the production or the reproduction of sound with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing of the person so playing, using or operating such instrument or device and such persons who are voluntary listeners thereto, nor shall such radio receiving set, vehicle radio, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the production or the reproduction of sound be operated in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of neighboring inhabitants or the public. The use or operation of any such instrument, radio, phonograph, machine or device in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of one hundred (100') feet from the building, structure, vehicle or place in which it is used or operated, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this subsection.

     Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit playing by a band or orchestra in a hall, building or in the open air by any Board of Education or Borough organized or sponsored program, activity or event, or by any other public program, activity or event, provided, however, that prior approval therefor has been obtained from the Borough.
(Ord. #382, S 8.7; Ord. #96-16, S 1)

     3-7.2 Disturbing Rest.

a. No person shall, within the limits of the Borough, permit, make or continue, or cause to be permitted, made, or continued any unnecessary noise which shall disturb the comfort, rest or repose of any person, or annoy any person being in his place of abode.

b. Definitions. As used in this Section:

Noise shall mean any sound which annoys or disturbs humans or which causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological effect on humans.
Sound shall mean an oscillation in pressure, particle displacement, particle velocity or other physical parameter, in a medium with internal forces that causes compression and rarefaction of that medium. The description of sound may include any characteristic of such sound, including duration, intensity or frequency.
(Ord. #382, S 8,; Ord. #740, S 1)

     3-7.3 Throwing of Dangerous Substances. No person shall throw any stones, sticks, glass, metal or any hard, dangerous or offensive substance into any street, by-way or public place, or at any car, vehicle, house, building, fence or person within the Borough limits. (Ord. #382, S 8.12)

     3-7.4 Ringing of Bells, Blowing of Horns, Etc. for Public Sales. No person shall, on any street, road, avenue, park or other public place within the limits of the Borough, ring any bell or blow any horn or make any public outcry at or for any public sale, auction or venue, or to advertise any goods, wares or merchandise for sale, or to attract any attention to or gain passengers for any cab, taxi-cab, hack or omnibus. (Ord. #382, S 8.18)

     3-7.5 Sound Trucks. It shall be unlawful for any person to use a mobile loud speaker or sound vehicle, commonly known as a sound truck or sound wagon, on the public streets within the corporate limits of the Borough; except, that this prohibition shall not apply to the Police Department, Fire Department and the Red Cross, or any association incorporated or unincorporated, organized for the benefit of the public welfare and relief, during the course of an emergency or when the use of such loud speaker or sound vehicle is directly connected with such public work or relief, nor to the use of loud speakers or sound trucks to amplify and project music from records or amplify and project other musical productions in connection with any public parade or event, when such public parade or event is sponsored by the Borough of North Plainfield and then only on the legal holidays of May 30, July 4 and November 11. The exceptions shall not be deemed to permit any commercial advertising or commercial use of such sound trucks at any time. (Ord. #382, S 8.19)

     3-7.6 Fireworks. No person shall, within the limits of the Borough, fire or discharge any fire cracker, torpedo or firwork of any kind, provided, however, that at any time the Fire Official may upon written application give permission for the display and discharge of fireworks at a time and place to be specified and under the direction of a person to be named in the written permit issued by the Fire Official. (Ord. #382, S 8.24; New)

     3-7.7 Animals on Public Streets. No person shall tether any horse or any other domestic animal on or upon any street, alley, or other public place within the Borough limits, nor shall any person permit his horse or other domestic animal to feed upon any public place in the Borough, either in charge of any person or not, nor shall any person lead or drive any such animal through or along any street or public place in the Borough unless securely held in leash or lead or driven with a halter to it as a secure means to keep such animal from straying. (Ord. #382, S 8.29)

North Plainfield, NJ Land Development Ordinance

Relevant Excerpts

22-115.15 Lights and Noise

a.

The use of searchlights, flares, balloons, or other aerial objects, or noisemakers of any type, for the advertisement or promotion of a business; or the conduct of performances or demonstrations upon the exterior grounds of a business property is prohibited.
b. The use of loudspeakers or sound amplifying devices of any type on a business property is prohibited, except where such loudspeaker or device is inside a fully enclosed building and not audible beyond the outside walls of the building.
c. No person shall operate or cause to be operated on private property any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level which exceeds the following limits set forth for the receiving land use:
1. Receiving land use Zone, R-1 through R-5 between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and B-1 through B-6 anytime maximum sound level limit of sixty-five (65) dBA.
2. Receiving land use Zone R-1 through R-5 between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. maximum sound level limit of fifty (50) dBA.
d. Sound level measurements shall be measured in accordance with the applicable State Statute.
e.
1. Lighting to be designed and/or shielded to prevent beam encroachment or glare onto dwellings in any Residential Zone R-1 through R-5; or onto roadways, creating a hazardous condition to motorists.
2. Care is to be taken to minimize beam encroachment or glare onto dwellings in business zones.

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