Howell, NJ Noise from Specific Sources: Car Alarm Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Continuous alarm cut-off
- Five (5) minutes after activation
- Intermittent alarm cut-off
- Fifteen (15) minutes after activation
- Maximum civil penalty
- $2,000 per offense
- Continuing violation
- Each day is a separate offense
- Enforcer
- Noise Control Officer or Noise Control Investigator
- Maximum extension
- 180 days
Summary
In Howell Township, a burglar alarm on a motor vehicle must shut off within five minutes when the sound is continuous and within fifteen minutes when it is intermittent. The limit is in Township Code § 208-9E, part of the Chapter 208 noise rules, and a violation carries a civil penalty of up to $2,000.
E. 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 other times the limits set forth in Tables I, II or III do not apply. ... B. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty for each offense of not more than the maximum penalty pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, which is $2,000. If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it occurs shall constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense.
Full Breakdown
Section 208-9E of the Howell Township Code covers every interior and exterior burglar alarm of a building or motor vehicle, so a car alarm falls under the same sentence as a house alarm. The limit is a time cap counted from activation: continuous airborne sound must end within five (5) minutes, and intermittent sound must end within fifteen (15) minutes. The section closes by stating that at all other times the limits set forth in Tables I, II or III do not apply, so the alarm standard is the cut-off time and not a sound level reading.
Chapter 208 is enforced by the Noise Control Officer or Noise Control Investigator, who issues either a notice of violation (NOV) or a notice of penalty assessment (NOPA) under § 208-11. A violation the officer deems minor, as defined in § 208-2, draws an NOV that works as a warning and names a correction period of up to 90 days under the Grace Period Law, N.J.S.A. 13:1D-125 et seq. A nonminor violation that is corrected immediately still draws an NOV without a civil penalty, but a repeat within 12 months draws a NOPA whether or not it is corrected. A violator can ask for an extension of the compliance deadline, and the officer can approve a reasonable request for up to 180 days when the violator shows a good faith effort.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of Chapter 208 is subject to a civil penalty for each offense of not more than the maximum under N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, which the code states is $2,000. A continuing violation counts each day as an additional, separate and distinct offense. A NOPA recipient is entitled to a hearing in a municipal court, and the officer can seek injunctive relief if the violation is not fixed in the time set in the NOPA. A penalty claim can be compromised based on mitigating circumstances, timely corrective measures, the violator's conduct and compliance history.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a car alarm sound in Howell Township?
Who enforces the alarm rule in Howell Township?
Is a first car alarm notice a fine in Howell Township?
Can an owner get more time to fix a faulty alarm?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Howell
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