Galloway Township's Noise Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles noise ordinances a little differently. In Galloway Township, New Jersey, there are 10 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Quiet Hours

Galloway Township Code Chapter 253 bans loud, disturbing, unnecessary noise that disrupts the peace and comfort of neighbors at any hour. New Jersey's statewide standard (N.J.A.C. 7:29) caps residential-line sound at 65 dBA daytime and 50 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Key details: Township chapter: Code Chapter 253, Noise. Night sound cap (state): 50 dBA, 10 p.m.–7 a.m.. Day sound cap (state): 65 dBA, 7 a.m.–10 p.m.. Enforced by: Police, Code Enforcement. Max fine: $2,000 per offense.

Conviction before the Municipal Judge carries a fine up to $2,000, up to 90 days imprisonment and/or up to 90 days community service; each day is a separate offense.

Outdoor Music

Outdoor music in Galloway Township is governed by Chapter 253's ban on sound devices that disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of neighbors, backed by New Jersey's 65 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime residential-line limits under N.J.A.C. 7:29.

Key details: Governing rule: Ch. 253 sound-device provision. Night limit: 50 dBA after 10 p.m.. Day limit: 65 dBA at property line. Dedicated outdoor rule: None specific. Max fine: $2,000 per offense.

Disturbing outdoor music violates Chapter 253: fine up to $2,000, up to 90 days jail and/or community service; each day of violation is a separate offense.

Barking Dogs

Galloway Township Code Chapter 253 prohibits keeping any animal or bird that, by frequent or long-continued noise, disturbs the comfort or repose of nearby residents — covering barking dogs, crowing roosters and similar disturbances at any hour.

Key details: Trigger: Frequent or long-continued noise. Applies to: Any animal or bird. Standard: Disturbs comfort/repose of neighbors. Chapter: Code Chapter 253, Noise. Also see: Ch. 353 nuisances; N.J.S.A. 4:19.

A Chapter 253 noise conviction carries a fine up to $2,000, up to 90 days jail and/or 90 days community service; each day of continued violation is a separate offense.

Leaf Blower Rules

Galloway Township Code Chapter 253 does not name leaf blowers specifically, but restricts internal-combustion lawn mowers and chain saws to 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Monday–Friday and 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Gas leaf blowers fall under the same disturbance rules.

Key details: Mon–Fri lawn hours: 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.. Sat–Sun lawn hours: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.. Leaf blowers: No dedicated section. Covered equipment: Mowers, chain saws (engine). Chapter: Code Chapter 253, Noise.

Operating covered equipment outside the permitted hours violates Chapter 253: fine up to $2,000, up to 90 days jail and/or community service; each day is a separate offense.

Decibel Limits

New Jersey's statewide Noise Control standard, enforced in Galloway Township, caps continuous sound at a residential property line at 65 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dBA from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Galloway's own Chapter 253 uses a plain-disturbance test.

Key details: Daytime limit: 65 dBA (7 a.m.–10 p.m.). Nighttime limit: 50 dBA (10 p.m.–7 a.m.). Impulsive peak: 80 dBA maximum. Measured at: Residential property line. Citation: N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.2.

Exceeding the N.J.A.C. 7:29 limits, enforced through Chapter 253, is punishable by a fine up to $2,000, up to 90 days jail and/or community service; each day is a separate offense.

Construction Hours

Under Galloway Township Code Chapter 253, building erection, excavation, demolition, alteration or repair is prohibited except 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, unless an urgent public-health/safety permit is issued.

Key details: Mon–Sat hours: 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.. Sunday hours: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.. Emergency permit: Up to 3 days, Code Official. Chapter: Code Chapter 253, Noise. Max fine: $2,000 per offense.

A Chapter 253 conviction carries a fine up to $2,000, up to 90 days jail and/or up to 90 days community service; each day of violation is a separate offense.

Amplified Music & Events

Galloway Township Code Chapter 253 prohibits playing any radio, television, hi-fi, stereo, phonograph or other sound-reproducing device so as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of persons in the vicinity — the rule that covers loud amplified music.

Key details: Covers: Radio, stereo, hi-fi, phonograph. Standard: Disturbs peace/quiet/comfort. State backstop: 65 dBA day / 50 dBA night. Chapter: Code Chapter 253, Noise. Max fine: $2,000 per offense.

Violation of Chapter 253 is punishable by a fine up to $2,000, up to 90 days imprisonment and/or up to 90 days community service; each day is a separate offense.

Vehicle Noise

Galloway Township Code Chapter 253 bans discharging the exhaust of any internal-combustion engine into the open air except through an adequate muffler that effectively prevents loud or excessive noise — covering cars, motorboats, watercraft, chain saws and lawn mowers.

Key details: Requires: Adequate muffler on engines. Covers: Cars, boats, saws, mowers. Prohibits: Loud/excessive exhaust noise. Chapter: Code Chapter 253, Noise. Max fine: $2,000 per offense.

A Chapter 253 conviction carries a fine up to $2,000, up to 90 days jail and/or 90 days community service; each day is a separate offense. Vehicle offenses may also draw Title 39 summonses.

Industrial Noise

Industrial and commercial noise in Galloway is capped by New Jersey's N.J.A.C. 7:29 standard — 65 dBA at a residential property line during the day and 50 dBA at night — which the Township enforces alongside Chapter 253's disturbing-noise prohibitions.

Key details: Day limit: 65 dBA at residential line. Night limit: 50 dBA at residential line. Impulsive peak: 80 dBA maximum. State rule: N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.2. Local backstop: Township Code Ch. 253.

N.J.A.C. 7:29 violations can draw NJDEP administrative penalties; local Chapter 253 enforcement adds fines up to $2,000, up to 90 days jail and/or community service per offense.

Aircraft Noise

Galloway Township sets no local aircraft-noise limit — aviation noise is preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Galloway lies near the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center and Atlantic City International Airport, whose operations are regulated federally, not by Township Code Chapter 253.

Key details: Local rule: None; FAA preempts. Nearby airport: Atlantic City Int'l (ACY). Federal facility: FAA Tech Center nearby. Complaints to: SJTA / FAA. Ch. 253 covers: Ground noise only.

No local penalty applies to aircraft in flight; enforcement of aviation noise rests with the FAA and airport operator, not Galloway Township.

The Bottom Line

Galloway Township's noise ordinances rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Galloway Township is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Galloway Township's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.