Bloomfield, NJ Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)

Section 635-5 of the Bloomfield Township Code is the numeric core of Chapter 635, Noise, adopted by the Bloomfield Board of Health. Subsection A bars anyone from operating a sound source on a property category listed in § 635-2A so as to create a sound level that equals or exceeds the limits in Tables I and II, measured at or within the real property line of the receiving property. Table I gives A-weighted levels. Outdoors, a residential property or the residential portion of a multi-use property is held to 65 dB from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 50 dB from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. A commercial facility, public service facility, nonresidential portion of a multi-use property or community service facility is held to 65 dB for 24 hours. Indoors, residential receiving properties are held to 55 dB by day and 40 dB at night, and the indoor commercial figure of 55 dB applies where a commercial facility shares a common wall, ceiling or floor with another commercial facility producing the sound.

Subsection D treats impulsive sound separately. Between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. it cannot equal or exceed 80 decibels, and between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the same cap applies to impulsive sound occurring fewer than four times in any hour. Impulsive sound repeating four or more times in any hour is measured as continuous sound against Table I. Section 635-1 defines impulsive sound as a single pressure peak or burst lasting less than one second. Table II adds maximum octave band sound pressure levels for center frequencies from 31.5 Hz to 8,000 Hz.

Indoor readings follow § 635-5B and C: exterior doors and windows closed, measurement in the center of the room most affected, and all sound sources inside the dwelling unit shut off. Measurements are not taken in hallways, closets or bathrooms. Noise control officers measure under N.J.A.C. 7:29-2 and issue enforcement documents under § 635-7. Section 635-6(A)(2) exempts construction and demolition from the Table I and II limits except as § 635-6(B) provides.