Quiet hours in Lehigh County, PA — also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time — define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Lehigh County has no countywide noise ordinance; quiet hours are set by each municipality. In Allentown, the county seat, the nighttime period runs 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M., when the residential sound limit drops to 52 dB(A) and loudspeakers on public property are banned.
Pennsylvania counties do not zone or set noise limits (PA Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. §10101 et seq.); boroughs, townships and cities do. Allentown's ordinance defines nighttime as 10:00 P.M.–7:00 A.M. During those hours the maximum residential sound level falls from 57 dB(A) (daytime) to 52 dB(A) at or within the property boundary, and loudspeakers or public-address systems are prohibited on any public right-of-way or public space. Domestic power tools, sound trucks and powered model vehicles are also barred in residential areas after 9:00 P.M. Check your specific municipality (Bethlehem, Emmaus, Macungie, etc.) for its own quiet-hour rule.
Allentown violation ticket is $100; an unpaid ticket adds a $25 penalty for days 11–20. Summary conviction: a fine of $100 to $1,000 and/or up to 90 days imprisonment. Each day is a separate offense.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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