New Britain, CT Noise from Specific Sources: Generator Noise (2026)

New Britain's Code of Ordinances Chapter 16, Article V governs noise citywide and reaches equipment homeowners run in their own yards, not just commercial sources. Sec. 16-102 defines 'daytime hours' as 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday, with 'nighttime hours' covering the balance of the clock. Sec. 16-106(b)(2) exempts noise from domestic power equipment, the category that covers a portable generator run to power a house during an outage or a job site, but only 'during daytime hours.' The exemption is silent on nighttime operation, so a generator run after 9:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m. falls back under the general Sec.

16-105 standard: noise crossing the property line into a Class A residential receptor zone cannot exceed 55 dBA in the daytime or 45 dBA at night, and separately cannot be audible more than 100 feet beyond the property line during nighttime hours. New Britain police and the health department enforce the article. Sec. 16-108 sets the fine at up to $50.00 for a first violation and $99.00 for each day the condition continues after a correction order. A resident who needs to run equipment outside these limits, such as a contractor operating overnight, can apply to the board of police commissioners for a variance under Sec. 16-109 at least 20 days before the activity, showing the noise will not endanger public health and that compliance would be an unreasonable hardship.