Linden, NJ Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential outdoor limit, day
- 65 dBA, 7am-10pm
- Residential outdoor limit, night
- 50 dBA, 10pm-7am
- Commercial outdoor limit
- 65 dBA, 24 hours
- Residential indoor limit, night
- 40 dBA
- Max civil penalty
- $2,000 per offense
- Adopted
- March 18, 2025, Ord. No. 69-3
Summary
Linden's Model Noise Ordinance caps outdoor sound at the property line at 65 dBA for residential and commercial receivers by day, dropping to 50 dBA overnight for homes. Indoor limits run lower still, and violators face a civil penalty of up to $2,000 per offense.
§ 3-2.7. Maximum Permissible Sound Levels. ... No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any source of sound on any source property listed in Subsection 3-2.3a above in such a manner as to create a sound level that equals or exceeds the sound level limits set forth 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 paragraph b. ... Table I Maximum Permissible A-Weighted Sound Levels When Measured Outdoors RECEIVING PROPERTY CATEGORY Residential property, or residential portion of a multi-use property Commercial facility, non-residential portion of a multi-use property, or community service facility TIME 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 24 hours Maximum A-Weighted sound level standard, dB 65 50 65
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4586096; v16 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
Adopted March 18, 2025 as Ordinance No. 7 rather than a vague 'unreasonable noise' standard. m. A commercial facility, the non-residential portion of a multi-use property, or a community-service facility is capped at 65 dBA around the clock. Table II sets tighter indoor limits, 55 dBA by day and 40 dBA at night for residential receivers, applicable when the source and receptor share a common or abutting wall, floor or ceiling. Table III adds octave-band sound-pressure limits for low-frequency noise, relevant to the industrial equipment common on Linden's east side near the Bayway complex.
, and at night it may not exceed 80 dBA more than three times per hour before Table I's standard limits apply instead. 6. 9c.
Violations & Fines
A first offense that is minor, meaning no purposeful or repeat conduct, draws a Notice of Violation with up to 90 days to voluntarily correct it under the state Grace Period Law. A non-minor or repeat violation draws a Notice of Penalty Assessment carrying a civil fine of up to $2,000 per offense under N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, with each continuing day a separate violation; the recipient may contest it at a municipal court hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum noise level allowed at night in a Linden residential neighborhood?
Who measures noise complaints in Linden?
What happens if a noise violation isn't fixed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Linden
Compare Linden to another location·View the New Jersey noise ordinances overview
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Decibel Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Union County handle decibel limits.