Noise from Specific Sources in Paterson, NJ (2026)
5 verified noise from specific sources rules for Paterson, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
HVAC & Mechanical Noise
Paterson's noise ordinance names air conditioners and HVAC units as example stationary sound sources and caps them at the same real-property-line decibel limits as any other equipment: 65 dB by day, 50 dB overnight outdoors at a residence.
Paterson Noise Code Covers HVAC Units
Some RestrictionsPaterson City Code § 337-8
No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any source of sound on any source property listed in § 337-4B(1)(a), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i) above 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 T...
Bar & Nightclub Noise
Paterson bars any commercial facility, a category that covers bars, clubs and restaurants, from letting sound carry past 25 feet at night or 50 feet by day.
Paterson Bar & Nightclub Noise Limit
Some RestrictionsPaterson City Code § 337-11G
No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any source of sound from any commercial facility between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in such a manner as to create a sound level that is plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet in any direction from the commercial facility. [Added 1-17-2023 by Ord. No. 23-001] H. No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the o...
Car Alarm Limits
Paterson requires every burglar alarm on a building or vehicle to shut off within 5 minutes of continuous sound or 15 minutes of intermittent sound, backed by fines up to $2,000 per offense.
Paterson Car Alarm Noise Time Limit
Some RestrictionsPaterson City Code § 337-10E
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 minutes for continuous airborne sound and 15 minutes for intermittent sound after it has been activated. At all other times, the limits set forth in Tables I, II or III do not apply. F. Self-contained, portable, nonvehicular mu...
Generator Noise
Paterson excuses emergency electricity generators at industrial, commercial or community-service facilities from its noise limits, but only while they're running during an actual power outage.
Paterson Exempts Emergency Generator Noise
Few RestrictionsPaterson City Code § 337-5A(14)
Except as provided in §§ 337-10 and 337-11 below, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the exceptions listed at N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.5. These exemptions are set forth below: ... (14) Emergency electricity generators at an industrial, commercial, or community service facility in use during an electrical outage.
Low-Frequency Bass Limits
Paterson's noise code lets an officer cite booming bass from a car or speaker as "plainly audible" just by hearing the rhythmic bass line, without identifying the song or artist.
Paterson Rules Rhythmic Bass as Audible Noise
Some RestrictionsPaterson City Code § 337-3 (definition of "Plainly Audible")
Any sound that can be detected by an NCO or an NCI using his or her unaided hearing faculties of normal acuity. As an example, if the sound source under investigation is a portable or vehicular sound amplification or reproduction device, the detection of the rhythmic bass component of the music is sufficient to verify plainly audible sound. The NCO or NCI need not determine the title, specific ...
Looking for Passaic County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Paterson city rules.
Noise from Specific Sources in Passaic County →