Stratford, CT Noise from Specific Sources: Delivery Truck Noise (2026)

Two paragraphs of § 142-6 in Chapter 142 (Noise), adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Stratford, govern delivery trucks directly. Section 142-6(B)(8) declares unlawful the creation of a loud and excessive noise in connection with loading or unloading any vehicle or the opening and destruction of bales, boxes, crates and containers. Section 142-6(B)(9) is the idling limit: no person shall operate an engine of any standing motor vehicle with a weight in excess of 10,000 pounds manufacturer's gross vehicle weight (GVW) for a period in excess of 10 minutes when the vehicle is parked on a residential premises or on a Town road next to a residential premises.

The idling rule is tied to residential premises, so it does not by its words reach a truck idling at a commercial dock away from homes. Section 142-5(D)(6) also matters at a dock. Sound from any mobile source of noise, including aircraft and trucks, is excluded from the chapter's noise levels, but the exclusion ceases to apply once the mobile source has maneuvered into position at the loading dock or similar facility, has turned off its engine and ancillary equipment and has begun the physical process of removing the contents of the vehicle.

From that point the noise is measured against the zone standards in § 142-5, and the conduct rule in § 142-6(A) applies throughout. Section 142-5(E)(5) exempts refuse and solid waste collection conducted during daytime hours, which for that purpose begin at 7:00 a.m. The Director of Health or a designee measures noise under § 142-9, and § 142-11 allows a variance on a showing of unreasonable hardship.