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Newark, NJ Noise from Specific Sources: Delivery Truck Noise (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Restricted hours: 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Covered activity: Loading, unloading, handling containers/materials
Standard applied: Table I sound level limits
First-offense fine: $100 to $750
Relief available: Special variance, Section 20:3-14

Summary

Newark bans loading, unloading, opening, closing, or otherwise handling boxes, crates, containers, building materials, or garbage cans between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. if the resulting sound exceeds Table I limits, under Section 20:3-13f of the Noise Control Ordinance. The rule targets exactly the noise pattern of an overnight delivery truck or dumpster service outside a residence or business.

§ 20:3-13f. Loading and unloading; loading, unloading, opening, closing, or other handling of boxes, crates, containers, building materials, liquids, garbage cans, or similar objects between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following day in such a manner as to exceed any applicable limit set forth in Table I.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5019615; v61 updated 2026-06-17; through 06-17-2026).

Full Breakdown

the following day is a violation whenever the resulting sound exceeds the applicable limit set in Table I, the sound-level table attached to the chapter. m. Together they cover the full sequence of a nighttime delivery: arrival and idling, unloading noise, and departure. A business or driver that needs to run deliveries outside these hours can apply for a special variance under Section 20:3-14, which the Directors of Health and Community Wellness, Public Safety, and Engineering grant only on a showing that compliance would create an unreasonable hardship, after weighing the impact on neighboring residents.

Violations & Fines

Violating the loading and unloading noise limit is penalized under the chapter's general schedule in Section 20:3-18: a minimum fine of $100 up to $750 for a first offense, up to $1,250 for a second, and up to $2,000 for a third or later offense. The Directors can also issue an abatement order under Section 20:3-17 requiring the noise source brought into compliance within 10 to 30 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a delivery truck unload at night in Newark?

Not if the noise exceeds Table I limits. Section 20:3-13f bans loading, unloading, or handling boxes, crates, containers, or garbage cans between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. whenever the resulting sound crosses the applicable Table I threshold at the property line.

Is there a separate rule for garbage trucks?

Yes. Section 20:3-13k specifically restricts sanitation and refuse-collection equipment to operating before 8:00 p.m. and after 6:00 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and no earlier than 8:00 a.m. on Sundays and legal holidays, apart from the general loading and unloading rule.

Can a business get an exception to unload after 10pm?

Yes, through a special variance under Section 20:3-14. The Directors of Health, Public Safety, and Engineering will grant one only if the applicant shows that compliance would create an unreasonable hardship, after weighing that against the impact on the surrounding community.

Sources & Official References

[1]City of Newark Revised General Ordinances (eCode360)

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