Jersey City, NJ Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Source category
- Industrial facilities listed §222-3.A
- Daytime limit
- 65 dB(A) at residential property line
- Nighttime limit
- 50 dB(A), 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
- Commercial receiver limit
- 65 dB(A), 24 hours
- Max penalty
- $2,000 civil penalty per N.J.S.A. 40:49-5
Summary
Jersey City caps sound crossing the property line from industrial facilities under Chapter 222's citywide noise ordinance. Table I limits outdoor sound reaching a residential receiver to 65 dB(A) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 50 dB(A) overnight, while sound reaching a commercial or industrial receiver is capped at 65 dB(A) around the clock.
A.This noise ordinance applies to sound from the following property categories:1.Industrial facilities;2.Commercial facilities;3.Public service facilities;4.Community service facilities;5.Residential properties;6.Multi-use properties;7.Public and private rights-of-ways;8.Public spaces; and9.Multi-dwelling unit buildings. ... A.No person shall cause or permit the operation of any source of sound on any source property listed in 223-A above in such a manner as to create a sound level that equals or exceeds the sound level limits in Tables I, II or III when measured at or within the real property line of any of the receiving properties listed in Tables I, II or III except as specified in 222-6B. [Table I] Maximum A-weighted sound level standard, dB: Residential Property... 65 (7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.), 50 (10:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m.); Commercial Facility...65 (24 hours).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52).
Full Breakdown
A, alongside commercial, public service, and multi-use properties. in such a manner as to create a sound level that equals or exceeds the sound level limits in Tables I, II or III when measured at or within the real property line' of the receiving property. ; sound reaching a commercial, public-service, or community-service receiver is capped at 65 dB around the clock. Table II applies the same structure indoors at 55 dB daytime/40 dB nighttime for residential receivers, and Table III sets octave-band limits by frequency for tonal industrial noise.
B, with repeated bursts of four or more per hour measured against the continuous-sound tables instead. Enforcement runs through certified Noise Control Officers and code-enforcement inspectors trained by the Rutgers Noise Technical Assistance Center under § 222-5, who can apply for an administrative search warrant if an industrial operator refuses reasonable sound testing on equipment.
Violations & Fines
Violations draw a notice of violation (NOV) for minor, first-time issues or a notice of penalty assessment (NOPA) for non-minor or repeat violations under § 222-5.6. A NOPA carries a civil penalty up to $2,000 per N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, with each additional day of continuing violation a separate offense; recipients can contest a NOPA at a hearing in municipal court.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud can an industrial facility be at night in Jersey City?
Who measures industrial noise complaints in Jersey City?
What happens if an industrial operator refuses a sound inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jersey City
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