10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Verified from official government sources
Montgomery County, PA sets no general quiet-hours ordinance. Under the PA Municipalities Planning Code, each of the county's 62 boroughs and townships adopts its own noise rules. Statewide, making 'unreasonable noise' can be charged as disorderly conduct (18 Pa.C.S. §5503).
18 Pa.C.S. §5503(a)(2)
A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if, with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he: (2) makes unreasonable noise
Montgomery County, PA has no countywide construction-hours rule; each municipality sets its own. Abington Township, for example, bans building construction outside 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Lower Merion Township allows construction only 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays.
Abington Township Code §106-3H
The erection, including excavation, demolition, alteration, construction or repair, of any building other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., except for emergency work, as defined in §106-2, is prohibited.
Montgomery County, PA has no countywide barking-dog ordinance. Municipal noise codes cover it: Abington Township bans keeping any animal that causes 'frequent or long-continued noise' disturbing neighbors. The state Dog Law (3 P.S. §459) requires owners to control and confine dogs.
Abington Township Code §106-3G
No person shall keep any animal or bird which causes frequent or long-continued noise which disturbs the comfort or repose of any person in the vicinity.
Montgomery County, PA sets no leaf-blower rule; municipalities do. Abington Township bars using a leaf blower or similar device so as to disturb neighbors on any day. Lower Merion limits landscaping equipment to daytime hours, with one machine allowed 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. weekdays.
Abington Township Code §106-3K
It shall be unlawful for any person in the operation of any machinery... snowblower, lawn mower, leaf blower, chain saw or similar mechanical device, to use such instrument or equipment in such a manner or with such volume as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of any person... on any day of the week.
Montgomery County, PA has no countywide amplified-music rule. Municipal codes govern it: Abington Township bans radios, instruments and public-address systems that disturb neighbors and prohibits any device 'plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet' from the building or vehicle it is in.
Abington Township Code §106-3D
No person shall use, operate or permit to be played any radio receiving set, musical instrument, television, phonograph, public-address system or other machine or device... in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which it is located is prohibited.
Neither Montgomery County, PA nor its municipalities regulate aircraft noise. Airspace and aircraft-noise standards are set exclusively by the Federal Aviation Administration under federal law, which preempts local rules. Municipal noise codes such as Lower Merion's expressly exempt aircraft.
Lower Merion Township Code §105-6A(12)
The following activities are exempt from the provisions of this chapter... (12) Aircraft and railway transportation.
Montgomery County, PA does not zone or set industrial noise limits; municipalities do under the PA Municipalities Planning Code. Abington Township caps air-conditioning and mechanical equipment at 55 dBA in residential zones, 60 dBA generally, and 70 dBA in planned-industrial districts.
Abington Township Code §106-3L(1)
Noise shall be considered excessive if the sound level from the air-conditioning unit or any other type of mechanical equipment... exceeds 55 decibels in recreation-conservation and residence districts... 70 decibels in PI Planned Industrial Districts... and 60 decibels in all other classes of zoning districts.
Montgomery County, PA sets no decibel standard; municipalities do. Lower Merion Township, for example, caps residential noise at 65 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime, and nonresidential at 70 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime, measured at the receiving property line.
Lower Merion Township Code §105-3C
During daytime (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) or nighttime (8:00 p.m to 8:00 a.m.) hours, the maximum permissible sound pressure levels... Residential (R) Daytime 65 Nighttime 50; Nonresidential (C) Daytime 70 Nighttime 55 (Continuous SPL dBA).
Montgomery County, PA has no countywide outdoor-music rule outside its parks. Lower Merion Township exempts concerts, block parties and receptions from decibel limits, but not from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (11:00 p.m. weekends). County parks ban excessive loud music.
Lower Merion Township Code §105-6A(5)
Concerts, block parties, graduations, wedding receptions, religious ceremonies, sporting or recreational activities, carnivals, festivals, or other performances or similar activities (public or private) shall be exempt, provided that... Such exemption shall not apply from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. the following day, Sunday through Thursday, or from 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. the following day on Fri...
Pennsylvania's Vehicle Code, not Montgomery County, controls vehicle noise statewide. Every motor vehicle must have a working muffler with no cutout or bypass (75 Pa.C.S. §4523), and modified exhausts that amplify noise are illegal. Municipal codes add loud-stereo and motorcycle rules.
75 Pa.C.S. §4523(c)
Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a muffler or other effective noise suppressing system in good working order and in constant operation and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass or similar device.
2 cities in Montgomery County have their own noise ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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