Middlesex County, NJ Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)

Middlesex County itself does not regulate residential noise. Authority over residential noise rests with each municipality under the Municipal Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.) and the general grant of police power at N.J.S.A. 40:48-1 and 40:48-2. The state floor is set by the New Jersey Noise Control Act (N.J.S.A. 13:1G-1 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at N.J.A.C. 7:29, administered by NJDEP. Most Middlesex municipalities (New Brunswick, Edison, Perth Amboy, Woodbridge, East Brunswick, North Brunswick, Piscataway, Old Bridge, South Brunswick, Sayreville, Carteret, South Plainfield) have adopted the NJDEP Model Noise Control Ordinance. The model sets continuous noise limits at residential property lines of 65 dB(A) during the day and 50 dB(A) at night, with the night period running from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on weekends and holidays. Impulsive sounds may not exceed 80 dB. Construction is generally exempt during permitted hours but is itself restricted by separate municipal construction-hour ordinances. Enforcement requires a certified noise officer who has completed the NJDEP/Rutgers noise enforcement training course; readings must be taken with a Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meter. Disorderly-persons noise complaints (loud parties, amplified music) are handled by local police departments; in New Brunswick that is the City of New Brunswick Police Department, in Edison the Edison Township Police Department.