Noise from Specific Sources in Jersey City, NJ (2026)
4 verified noise from specific sources rules for Jersey City, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
HVAC & Mechanical Noise
Jersey City's noise code specifically names air conditioners and HVAC units as sound sources it regulates. Chapter 222 defines a 'multi-use property' to include buildings whose air conditioners may raise sound levels elsewhere on the same lot, and sets the measurement boundary for an outdoor HVAC unit at the exterior wall of the unit receiving the noise.
Jersey City HVAC Equipment Noise Rule
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 222-2, definitions 'Multi-Use Property' and 'Real Property Like' (Chapter 222, Noise)
MULTI-USE PROPERTY means any distinct parcel of land that is used for more than one (1) category of activity. Examples include, but are not limited to: (1)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 dev...
Bar & Nightclub Noise
Jersey City caps the sound level of licensed entertainment instead of leaving it to the general noise code: nightclubs are held to 65 dB before 10 p.m. and 50 dB after, restaurants to 55 dB and 45 dB, under Chapter 157's Entertainment License conditions, which the Division of Commerce enforces license-by-license.
Jersey City Bar & Nightclub Noise Caps
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 157-3A(1)(a), § 157-3A(2)(a)
(a)Notwithstanding noise regulation in Chapter 222 of the Jersey City Code to the contrary, any entertainment under this Nightclub Entertainment License shall be restricted to a decibel level of 65 dB from Noon to 10 P.M., and shall be restricted to 50 dB from 10 P.M. to close of entertainment in accordance with § 157-4C(1), seven days per week... (a)Notwithstanding noise regulation in Chapter ...
Car Alarm Limits
Jersey City requires every car and building burglar alarm to shut itself off automatically. Under § 222-5.4.F, a continuous-sounding alarm must terminate within 5 minutes of activation, and an intermittent alarm within 15 minutes: regardless of how loud it is, since the chapter's regular decibel tables don't apply to alarms at all.
Jersey City Car Alarm Time Limit
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 222-5.4.F (Chapter 222, Noise — Restricted uses and activities)
All interior and exterior burglar alarms of a building or motor vehicle must be activated in such a manner that the burglar alarm terminates its operation within five (5) minutes for continuous airborne sound, and fifteen (15) minutes for intermittent sound after it has been activated. At all times the limits set forth in Tables I, II or III do not apply.
Low-Frequency Bass Limits
Jersey City measures bass and other low-frequency noise with the 'C'-weighting scale, which is far more sensitive to bass than the standard 'A'-weighting used for most sound checks. Under § 222-5.3, a sound production device can't raise the total level inside a neighbor's home by more than 3 dB(C) at night or 6 dB(C) during the day above the neighborhood's residual sound level.
Jersey City Bass Noise Sound Limit
Some RestrictionsJersey City Code § 222-5.3 and Table IV; § 222-2 'Plainly Audible' (Chapter 222, Noise)
No person shall cause 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 222-5.1.B of this artic...