Upper Darby, PA Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential daytime limit
- 55 dB(A), 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
- R-4/REC nighttime limit
- 50 dB(A), 10 p.m.-8 a.m.
- Commercial (C-1 to C-3) limit
- 60 dB(A) at all times
- C-4 commercial limit
- 65 dB(A) at all times
- Pure tone/impulsive reduction
- 5 dB(A) tighter than Table I
- Measurement point
- Property boundary
Summary
Upper Darby caps stationary noise sources at 55 dB(A) in residential zones from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 50 dB(A) overnight, up to 65 dB(A) in commercial zones at all times, measured at the property boundary, with a 5 dB(A) tighter limit for pure-tone or impulsive sound.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or permit to be operated any stationary source of noise in such a manner as to create a sound pressure level which exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land use (land use category) in Table I below when measured at the property boundary. When a noise source can be identified and its noise measured in more than one land use category, the limits of the most restrictive use shall apply at the boundaries between different land use categories. ... For any source of sound which emits a pure tone or impulsive sound, the maximum sound level limits set forth in Table I shall be reduced by five dB(A).
Full Breakdown
; C-1, C-2 and C-3 commercial districts are capped at 60 dB(A) at all times; and C-4 is capped at 65 dB(A) at all times. When a noise source is measured across a boundary between two different land use categories, § 373-7A requires the more restrictive of the two limits to govern. Section 373-7B tightens the standard further for tonal or impulsive noise: any sound source emitting a pure tone or impulsive sound must meet a limit reduced by five dB(A) below the Table I figure for that zone and time.
These limits are the backbone the chapter's other specific prohibitions point back to; § 373-6 states that a violation of any specific prohibition is determined "based on the sound levels set forth in § 373-7," and § 373-6G (vehicle repair/testing) and § 373-6C (exterior/interior loudspeakers) expressly cross-reference Table I as the compliance standard. Section 373-10 extends the same Table I limits to motorized vehicles operated off a public right-of-way, measured at the property line.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the Table I sound pressure level for the receiving zone and time period violates § 373-7 and is a summary offense under § 373-12, punishable by citation. Enforcement personnel may issue a written correction notice under § 373-3 before filing a summons for a stationary source, and repeat exceedances may be enjoined as a public nuisance under § 373-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the daytime noise limit in Upper Darby's residential zones?
What is the nighttime noise limit in Upper Darby?
Are commercial zones held to a different noise limit?
Does Upper Darby treat a car alarm or beeping sound differently under the decibel rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upper Darby
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