Trenton, NJ Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime limit
- 55 dBA, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Residential nighttime limit
- 50 dBA, 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Commercial daytime limit
- 65 dBA, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Industrial limit
- 75 dBA, all times
- Measured at
- Receiving land use property line
- Max general penalty
- $2,000 fine or 90 days jail
Summary
Trenton's only measured decibel standard applies to junkyards and recycling centers under Code § 137-10. Sound at a residential or institutional property line cannot exceed 55 dBA from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 50 dBA overnight; commercial and industrial receiving areas get higher caps, measured at the receiving property boundary.
No person shall operate or cause to be operated within the boundaries of any junkyard or recycling center any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level in excess of the limits set forth below as measured at or within the property boundary of the receiving land use. ... Residential or institutional: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 55 decibels; 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., 50 decibels. Commercial or public right-of-way: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., 65 decibels; 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., 55 decibels. Industrial: All times, 75 decibels.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4853025; v21 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 167's general noise ordinance bans loud, disturbing sounds like blaring radios, sound trucks and late-night idling, but assigns no decibel numbers. The only quantified sound-level table in the Trenton Code sits in § 137-10, governing junkyards and recycling centers licensed under § 137-9. ; and an industrial receiving use is capped at 75 decibels at all times. All limits are measured at or within the boundary of the receiving property, not the source property. The City can require the junkyard or recycling center's owner or operator to measure sound or vibration using methods, locations and timing an authorized City representative prescribes, submit the results promptly, allow a City official to witness the measurement, or have it performed by an independent, professionally qualified firm. The facility must also hold a City Clerk license under § 137-9 before operating at all.
Violations & Fines
Section 137-14 punishes violations of the junkyard and recycling article as provided in Chapter 1, Article III, General Penalty: a fine up to $2,000, up to 90 days in the county jail, or community service, with each day of a continuing exceedance treated as a separate offense and an enhanced fine for repeat violations within one year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Trenton have citywide decibel limits for noise?
How loud can a Trenton junkyard be near a house?
Who measures junkyard noise in Trenton and how?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Trenton
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