Bensalem, PA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Industrial zone day limit
- 75-80 dBA at boundary
- Nonbusiness zone day limit
- 55 dBA at boundary
- Night limits
- generally 5-15 dBA lower than day
- Fine
- up to $1,000 per violation, per day
- Measured at
- property lot lines
Summary
Bensalem's Noise Ordinance sets maximum sound levels measured at every lot line, varying by the zoning district emitting the sound and by day versus night. Light Industrial and General Industrial zones may emit up to 75-80 dBA by day and 70-75 dBA by night, while nonbusiness districts are capped at 55 dBA day and 50 dBA night at a residential boundary.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to emit or cause to be emitted any noise beyond the lot lines of his property in excess of the noise levels established in this chapter.(b)Maximum sound limits shall be measured at all lot lines of the property from which the sound is being emitted.(c)At any point along the common lot line of any commercial or industrial property and any property from which sound is being emitted, regardless of the distance between the source of the sound and the lot lines from which the sound is measured, the maximum sound emitted from any source shall not exceed the following limits:
Sound Level Limits Zoning Classification of Property Emitting Sound Day DBA Night DBA GC General Commercial 65 65 HCI Highway Commercial 70 70 LI Light Industrial 75 70 GI General Industrial 80 75 All other business districts 60 55 All other nonbusiness districts 55 50
Full Breakdown
Bensalem's Noise Ordinance, Ch. 149, adopted by Ord. No. 98-18 in 1998, sets numeric decibel limits. Sec. 149-3(a) makes it unlawful to emit noise beyond a property's lot lines in excess of the chapter's limits, and subsection (b) requires the maximum to be measured at the lot lines of the property emitting the sound. Subsection (c) sets the ceiling measured at a commercial or industrial property's common lot line: General Commercial is capped at 65 dBA day and 65 dBA night, Highway Commercial at 70 dBA day and night, Light Industrial at 75 dBA day and 70 dBA night, General Industrial at 80 dBA day and 75 dBA night, other business districts at 60 dBA day and 55 dBA night, and other nonbusiness districts at 55 dBA day and 50 dBA night.
Subsection (d) sets a second table measured at a residential, noncommercial, or nonindustrial property's lot line, capping General Commercial at 65 dBA day and 55 dBA night, Highway Commercial at 70/60, Light Industrial at 75/60, General Industrial at 80/65, other business districts at 60/50, and other nonbusiness districts at 55/50. The Township applies whichever table matches the zoning of the receiving property, and the chapter cross-references its alarm, amusement, dog, gokart, and peace-and-good-order chapters, plus the Commonwealth's snowmobile muffler statute, 75 Pa.C.S.A. Section 7743.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 149-6(a) makes exceeding these decibel limits, or ignoring a Township sound-measurement order, a summary offense punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation, with each day of continued excess noise a separate offense. Sec. 149-6(b) separately declares any violation a nuisance prejudicial to public health and safety, letting the Township abate it directly and bill the property owner for the abatement costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed in a Bensalem residential area at night?
Where does Bensalem measure noise levels?
What is the fine for exceeding Bensalem's noise limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bensalem
Compare Bensalem to another location·View the Pennsylvania noise ordinances overview
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