Montgomery County, PA does not zone or set industrial noise limits; municipalities do under the PA Municipalities Planning Code. Abington Township caps air-conditioning and mechanical equipment at 55 dBA in residential zones, 60 dBA generally, and 70 dBA in planned-industrial districts.
Because Pennsylvania counties do not perform land-use zoning, industrial and commercial noise limits are set by each borough or township. Abington Township makes it unlawful for air-conditioning or other mechanical equipment to make excessive noise, defining excessive as exceeding 55 decibels in recreation-conservation and residence districts, 70 decibels in Planned Industrial districts, and 60 decibels in all other zoning districts. Permanently installed emergency generators may reach 75 dBA at the nearest property line, with testing limited to 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays. Lower Merion applies its general 70 dBA daytime / 55 dBA nighttime nonresidential caps. Non-compliant equipment must be discontinued or brought into compliance, often within 30 days.
Abington fines run $10 to $300 per offense with each day separate; equipment found in violation must be discontinued immediately, though the Health Department may grant up to 30 days to comply.
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