Quiet hours in Allentown, PA — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Allentown does not use a single blanket curfew; instead Article 710 (Chapter 400, Noise Control) sets maximum permissible dBA sound levels by receiving land use, with sharply lower limits between 10:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M. Residential zones drop to 52 dBA at night, and exceeding the table is a noise disturbance.
Allentown's nighttime quiet regime is built on a decibel table in Article 710.06 (codified as Chapter 400, Noise Control; Ordinance No. 13078, passed 9/18/1991, as amended). Section 710.06(A) provides that, unless a variance is obtained, 'no person shall operate or cause to be operated on public or private property any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level which exceeds the limits set forth in the receiving land use category in Table 1 when measured at or within the property boundary of the receiving land use.' Table 1 sets day limits for the period 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. and lower night limits for 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M.: residential zones are limited to 52 dBA at night, with parks/institutional and business/industrial categories at 62 dBA at night. Section 710.06(B) adds that where background levels already exceed Table 1, an intrusive source causing a 10 dB(A) increase is itself a disturbance, and 710.06(C) reduces every limit by 5 dB(A) for pure-tone or impulsive sound. Numerous specific prohibitions (loudspeakers, loading/unloading, power tools, sound trucks, model vehicles) also key off the 10:00 P.M. (or 9:00 P.M.) to 7:00 A.M. window. State law (18 Pa.C.S. section 5503) independently criminalizes 'unreasonable noise' as disorderly conduct at any hour.
Each violation may draw a $100 violation ticket (Article 710.99(A)(7)); on summary conviction the fine is $100 to $1,000 per offense and/or up to 90 days imprisonment (710.99(A)(9)). Each day a violation continues may be a separate offense.
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