Morris County, NJ Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Morris County, NJ, also called the noise ordinance, nighttime noise rules, or residential quiet time, define the hours during which excessive noise is prohibited.
Key Facts
- County rule
- None (home rule)
- Day limit
- 65 dBA (7 a.m.-10 p.m.)
- Night limit
- 50 dBA (10 p.m.-7 a.m.)
- Authority
- N.J.A.C. 7:29 Noise Control Act
- Enforced by
- Your municipality
Summary
Morris County sets no quiet-hours rule. New Jersey's Noise Control Act caps residential-property-line sound at 65 dBA during the day (7 a.m.-10 p.m.) and 50 dBA at night (10 p.m.-7 a.m.). Your town enforces it.
From 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M.: Continuous airborne sound which has a sound level in excess of 50 dBA... From 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.: Continuous airborne sound which has a sound level in excess of 65 dBA (measured at any residential property line of any affected person).
Full Breakdown
New Jersey is a home-rule state: noise is regulated by municipalities, not by Morris County. Every town (Morristown, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Randolph, Denville, Mount Olive, Roxbury) adopts and enforces its own noise ordinance built on the statewide Noise Control Act, N.J.A.C. 7:29. That rule sets a 'nighttime' period of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., when the continuous-sound cap at a residential property line drops from 65 dBA to 50 dBA. Township of Morris Chapter 345 and Parsippany-Troy Hills Chapter 258 are typical local adoptions. Check your specific municipality's code for exact quiet-hours language and any local curfew on power equipment.
Violations & Fines
Enforced by the municipal police or code officer under the local noise ordinance and N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.7; penalties are set by each town, commonly fines per offense with escalating amounts for repeat violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Morris County have its own quiet hours?
When do the stricter night limits apply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Morris County
How Morris County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Morris County to another location·View the New Jersey noise ordinances overview
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