Franklin Township, PA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime limit
- 50 dBA, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Residential nighttime limit
- 40 dBA, 9 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Commercial/industrial limits
- 65 dBA day / 50 dBA night
- Industrial limit
- 70 dBA at all times
- Continual sound reduction
- Limit cut by 10 decibels
- Excluded sources
- Vehicles, farms, construction, alarms
- Governing section
- § 27-1608.2
Summary
In Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, the zoning code's performance standards cap sound at the property line by land use and time of day: 50 dBA daytime and 40 dBA nighttime for residential/industrial, 65/50 dBA for commercial/industrial, and 70 dBA at all times for industrial.
The sound level generated on a premises by an activity shall not exceed the standards established by this section. The operation of motor vehicles, farm operations, temporary activities involved in construction or demolition of structures and emergency alarm signals shall be excluded from this regulation. Sound levels shall be measured at the property lines housing the activity by a sound-level meter which conforms to specifications published by the American Standards Association. ... Residential/industrial 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 50 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 40 Plus Sundays and holidays Commercial/industrial 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 65 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 50 Industrial At all times 70
Full Breakdown
Franklin Township regulates noise as a zoning performance standard at § 27-1608, applying to all uses in all districts. A sets the operative rule: the sound level generated on a premises by an activity may not exceed the standards the section establishes, measured at the property lines housing the activity with a sound-level meter conforming to American Standards Association specifications. Motor vehicle operation, farm operations, temporary construction or demolition activity, and emergency alarm signals are excluded from the regulation. , with that nighttime limit also applying on Sundays and holidays; for commercial/industrial receiving uses the limits are 65 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime; and for industrial receiving uses the limit is a flat 70 dBA at all times.
B tightens the standard for two special sound types: a continual sound source must have its maximum limit reduced by 10 decibels, and a pulsating sound repeating no more than once every 15 seconds may not exceed ambient noise levels by more than 10 decibels. The same § 27-1608 also carries the township's air pollution, vibration, and heat-and-glare performance standards, but the noise table is the only source of numeric decibel limits in the code. This section traces to Ord. 95-07 of 12/14/1995 (originally § 1507) and was amended by Ord. 2008-04 on 11/19/2008.
Violations & Fines
A sound level exceeding the applicable dBA limit is a zoning violation enforced the same way as other performance-standard breaches: the Zoning Officer issues a written notice of violation under § 27-2303 describing the excess and the required fix, and if it is not corrected the Township can pursue a civil enforcement judgment of up to $500 plus court costs and attorney fees under § 27-2304 before the Magisterial District Judge, with each continuing day counted as a separate violation after any grace period.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nighttime noise limit for a residential property in Franklin Township?
Are farm noises exempt from the decibel limits?
Where is sound measured to check compliance?
Does a continuous hum face a stricter limit than a normal sound?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin Township
Compare Franklin Township to another location·View the Pennsylvania noise ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.