Framingham, MA Noise from Specific Sources: HVAC & Mechanical Noise (2026)

Section 332-5 of the Framingham City Code lists "building HVAC systems" first among the examples of stationary noise sources, alongside power generation facilities, industrial equipment, water or sewage pump stations, electric power transformers and commercial factories. Any stationary source, including rooftop or ground-mounted HVAC condensers and heat pumps, cannot exceed the dB(A) limits in Table 1 when measured at the property line of the receiving property. For a mixed residential-commercial receiver, such as a hotel, motel or hospital sited near commercial HVAC equipment, Table 1 caps the noise at 60 dB(A) Leq (1 minute) during both the daytime (7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and evening (6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) bands, dropping to 55 dB(A) at night (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.), or the measured background level if that reading is louder.

Section 332-9 requires compliance readings to come from a calibrated Type 2 sound level meter under ASTM standards, with make, model, calibration date and weather conditions logged. Section 332-10A grandfathers HVAC units already operating lawfully before the chapter's October 29, 2019 effective date, but any HVAC unit installed or upgraded afterward must meet the Table 1 limits regardless of when the building itself was built.