Clifton, NJ Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Chapter 271, Hours of Construction, was adopted 9-21-1999 by Ord. No. 6095-99. Section 271-1(A) covers the operation of, or permitting the operation of, any tools, equipment or vehicles used in construction, drilling, earthmoving, excavating, alteration repairs, paving, demolition work or any other construction work of any nature whatsoever. It reaches work in any residential zone or any tract of land adjacent to any residential zone, and it prohibits that operation before 8:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, except in the event of an emergency. Section 271-1(B) sets the Sunday line at before 9:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m., with the further provision that the work can only be performed personally by the homeowner, again except in the event of an emergency.

Section 271-1(C), added 6-20-2000 by Ord. No. 6142-00, lets the City Manager and City Engineer, jointly, grant permission to begin the Subsection A operations earlier on weekdays and Saturdays, but never earlier than 7:00 a.m. Under Section 271-1(D), any interested party can appeal their decision to the Municipal Council. Section 271-2 extends the bar to deliveries of construction equipment, materials or vehicles to a site described in Section 271-1: before 8:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, from 7:00 p.m. on Saturday to 8:00 a.m. on Monday, and on holidays.

Chapter 327, Noise, was adopted 1-8-1985 by Ord. No. 4943-85 and amended in its entirety 7-3-2001 by Ord. No. 6213-01. Section 327-1 defines construction as any site preparation, assembly, erection, repair, alteration or similar action, including demolition of buildings or structures. Section 327-6(B)(3) provides that construction and demolition activity, excluding emergency work, shall not be performed between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays or between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on weekends and federal holidays unless the work can meet the limits in Tables I and II. Section 327-1 defines emergency work to include repairing water, gas, electricity, telephone, sewer facilities or public transportation facilities, removing fallen trees on public rights-of-way, dredging navigational waterways or abating life-threatening conditions. It defines a weekday as any day that is not a federal holiday, beginning Monday at 7:00 a.m. and ending the following Friday at 6:00 p.m., and weekends as beginning Friday at 6:00 p.m. and ending the following Monday at 7:00 a.m.