Scranton, PA Noise Ordinances: Construction Hours (2026)

Section 317-7(A)(13) of the City Code is the operative construction-hours provision. Subsection (a) bans construction, drilling or demolition tool or equipment operation that creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property line between 10:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. the following day on weekdays and Saturdays, or between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on Sundays and holidays. Subsection (b) imposes a daytime cap: at any other time, the sound level cannot exceed 85 dB(A) at or across a real property boundary unless a variance has been obtained. Variances are issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer (designated as the Noise Control Officer for land-use exception decisions under the chapter's definition section). Public-safety emergency work is expressly carved out, and Section 317-9(C) more broadly exempts noise caused in the performance of emergency work to protect the immediate safety, health or welfare of the community or to restore property to a safe condition following a public calamity. Section 317-7(A)(11) separately reaches loading and unloading operations on manufacturing/industrial property between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. when noise crosses a residential boundary; the municipal/utility services right-of-way carve-out in that subsection does not extend to private construction. Scranton's Department of Licensing, Inspections and Permits (LIPS) handles building permits under Chapter 203 (Contractors, Permits and Inspections). The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa. Code Chapter 401) governs building safety but does not preempt local construction-noise rules. State-law backstop: 75 Pa.C.S. Section 4523 (mufflers and exhaust noise) reaches truck and equipment noise on the public right-of-way.