Jackson, NJ Noise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (2026)

Section 291-9F targets self-contained, portable, nonvehicular music or sound production devices, such as a boombox, speaker or amplifier, operated on a public space or public right-of-way. Between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., the equipment cannot be plainly audible more than 50 feet away in any direction from the operator; between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., that audibility radius shrinks to 25 feet. Plainly audible is defined in § 291-2 as sound an officer can detect with unaided normal hearing, and for music specifically includes detecting only the rhythmic bass component, so the officer does not need to identify the song or artist.

Section 291-8 separately covers sound production devices generally, including amplified music indoors or on private property: it bars raising the total sound level within a complainant's residence above the neighborhood's residual sound level by more than the limit in Table IV, measured with the sound meter set to C weighting, fast response, under the § 291-6B protocol. These distance and increase-based tests exist because amplified music is harder to capture with a fixed decibel table than a mechanical noise source; the officer can cite a violation based on audibility or a relative increase over background sound rather than only an absolute decibel reading.

Golf courses have a separate carve-out under § 291-5D letting them open at 6:00 a.m., but that exemption does not extend to amplified music devices covered by § 291-9F.