West New York, NJ Noise Ordinances: Decibel Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Impulsive sound, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Must stay below 80 decibels (§ 266-7B)
- Impulsive sound at night
- Below 80 decibels if fewer than four times an hour
- Repeating impulsive sound
- Four or more per hour is measured as continuous
- Continuous limits
- Tables I, II and III, attached to Chapter 266
- Burglar alarm cutoff
- Five minutes continuous, 15 minutes intermittent
- Maximum civil penalty
- $3,000 per offense (§ 266-11B)
Summary
In the Town of West New York, New Jersey, impulsive sound cannot equal or exceed 80 decibels between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., or at night when it occurs less than four times in an hour. Continuous sound limits sit in Tables I, II and III, which the code attaches to Chapter 266, and civil penalties reach $3,000 per offense.
Either a single pressure peak or a single burst (multiple pressure peaks) that has a duration of less than one second. ... A. No person shall cause, suffer, allow, or permit the operation of any source of sound on any source property listed in § 266-3A above in such a manner as to create a sound level that equals or exceeds the sound-level limits set forth in Table I, II or III when measured at or within the real property line of any of the receiving properties listed in Table I, II or III, except as specified in § 266-6B.[1] ... B. Impulsive sound. Between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., impulsive sound shall not equal or exceed 80 decibels. Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., impulsive sound which occurs less than four times in any hour shall not equal or exceed 80 decibels. Impulsive sound which repeats four or more times in any hour shall be measured as continuous sound and shall meet the requirements as shown in Tables I and II.[2]
Full Breakdown
Chapter 266 of the Code of the Town of West New York, adopted 7-18-2012 as Ord. No. 19/12, sets numeric limits through two routes. Section 266-7A bars any source of sound on a listed source property from creating a sound level that equals or exceeds the limits in Table I, II or III, measured at or within the real property line of the receiving property. Source categories under § 266-3A are industrial, commercial, public service and community service facilities, residential and multi-use properties, public and private rights-of-way, public spaces and multi-dwelling-unit buildings; receiving categories under § 266-3B are commercial, public service, community service, residential, multi-use and multi-dwelling-unit properties. The chapter lists Tables I, II and III as an attachment, so those zone and category figures are not printed in the chapter text.
Section 266-7B prints a fixed number. Impulsive sound, defined as a single pressure peak or single burst lasting less than one second, cannot equal or exceed 80 decibels between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the 80 decibel cap applies to impulsive sound occurring less than four times in any hour. Impulsive sound that repeats four or more times in any hour is measured as continuous sound and must meet Tables I and II.
Time-of-day restrictions apply to specific activities under § 266-9. Residential power tools and yard equipment are barred from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. unless they meet the tables. Nonresidential operators are barred from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on weekdays and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekends and federal holidays. Construction and demolition is barred from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekends and federal holidays, though § 266-4C exempts it from the table limits otherwise. Burglar alarms must stop within five minutes for continuous sound and 15 minutes for intermittent sound.
Measurements follow N.J.A.C. 7:29-2, and noise control officers certified under the chapter perform them (§§ 266-5, 266-6).
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 266 brings a notice of violation or notice of penalty assessment and a civil penalty of not more than $3,000 per offense, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense (§ 266-11B). A minor violation first receives a warning notice with up to 90 days to correct. A nonminor violation not immediately corrected draws a penalty assessment, which can be contested in municipal court (§ 266-11G).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the decibel limit for sudden loud noise in the Town of West New York?
What happens to repeated impulsive noise at night?
Where are the continuous sound limits by property type?
What is the penalty for exceeding the limits?
Sources & Official References
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