Showing ordinances that apply to Reading, MA
Reading is an unincorporated community (population 25,518) in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Because Reading is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Middlesex County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The industrial noise rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Industrial noise in Middlesex County is regulated by 310 CMR 7.10 (the Massachusetts DEP noise policy) plus local bylaws. The state rule prohibits industrial sources from exceeding ambient by more than 10 dBA.
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) enforces 310 CMR 7.10 across all Middlesex municipalities. This regulation prohibits any source of sound from increasing the broadband sound level more than 10 dBA above ambient at the property line, or producing a pure tone audible at the property line. The rule applies to industrial, commercial, and mechanical equipment regardless of municipality. Lowell, Waltham, Framingham, and Woburn host the bulk of Middlesex's industrial zones along Routes 128 and 495. These cities supplement state rules with local decibel caps: Waltham uses 65 dBA daytime / 55 dBA nighttime at residential property lines; Woburn and Framingham set similar caps. Enforcement combines MassDEP inspectors with local boards of health. Complaints go first to your local health department, then escalate to MassDEP if unresolved. Violations can reach 25,000 dollars per day under state authority.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how Reading's industrial noise rules stack up against other locations.
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