Bergen County, NJ Noise Ordinances: Quiet Hours (2026)
Quiet hours in Bergen 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
- Park noise rule
- Loud or raucous sound prohibited
- State framework
- NJ Noise Control Act 13:1G
- Park hours
- Generally dawn to dusk
- Enforcement
- Bergen County Sheriff in parks
- Residential rules
- Set by each municipality
Summary
Bergen County does not set countywide residential quiet hours; those rules are set by each municipality under New Jersey's Noise Control Act. The county directly regulates noise only within its parks system, where loud or amplified sound disturbing other visitors is prohibited.
Loitering/Trespassing. No unauthorized person shall occupy or be present on park premises, except during the hours when said premises are open to the public, provided however that organized groups may be present during other hours only with the prior written permission of the County. The park premises, unless posted otherwise, shall open daily from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sundown with the exception of the Bergen County Zoo, the James A. McFaul Environmental Center, Overpeck Park, and the golf courses all of which have specialized hours of operation. However, the County or its duly designated representative may, by resolution or other appropriate action, extend the closing hours on such days and for such periods of time as it may deem to be in the public interest.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Residential and commercial quiet hours throughout Bergen County's 70 municipalities are governed by local borough and township ordinances modeled on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Model Noise Control Ordinance, which the State authorizes under N.J.S.A. 13:1G-1 et seq. Most municipal codes adopt a 50 dBA nighttime limit between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. at residential property lines. Bergen County itself enforces noise rules only inside the county parks system, where uncontrolled, loud, raucous, or obscene noise is prohibited. Park curfews close grounds at dusk unless a permit is issued.
Violations & Fines
Park noise violations enforced by the Bergen County Sheriff. Municipal noise fines vary; typically $100 to $2,000 per offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bergen County set quiet hours for my home?
Who enforces noise complaints in county parks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bergen County
How Bergen County compares: Cities with the Strictest Noise Ordinances·Compare Bergen County to another location·View the New Jersey noise ordinances overview
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