NOISE REGULATIONS

For many years, the Township has dealt with noise complaints through the application of a general nuisance provision in its Code which required the active participation of the complainant in the enforcement process and sometimes discouraged complaint-filing. 

Beginning in May, 2002, the Township Council began studying this issue at the recommendation of the Township Clerk and Police Chief.  The local laws of several municipalities were reviewed, leading to a draft which, after extensive fine-tuning, resulted in the introduction of an ordinance providing for much more extensive regulation of noise in the Township. 

Primarily, the goal has always been to set hourly limitations on activities which create noise disturbances.  Enforcers of the Code can then much more easily take immediate action to order cessation of certain activities without requiring the complainant’s direct involvement. 

Examples of new limitations are: 

1) Between Sunday and Thursday, the operation of televisions, musical instruments, live bands, CD players, stereos, phonographs, or other instruments or devices will not be permitted between 10 P.M. and 7:30 A.M. if audible at a distance of 50 feet from the building.  On Friday and Saturday, the hours are Midnight to 7:30 A.M.

2) Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, or singing are prohibited on the public streets between 10 P.M. and 7:30 A.M. 

3) Excavation, Demolition, Construction, and so forth by commercial contractors is only permitted between 7 A.M. and 8 P.M. weekdays and Saturdays between April 15 and October 15; 8 A.M. and 8 P.M. between October 16 and April 14. 

Homeowner work will be permitted 8 A.M. to 8 P.M., Monday through Saturday, and 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. on Sunday. 

4) Snow blowers, leaf blowers, power fans, chain saws, lawn equipment, or other motors or engines, unless properly muffled, cannot be operated between 8 P.M. and 8 A.M., Monday through Saturday, by commercial contractors or homeowners.  Homeowners can operate such devices between 10 A.M. and 6 P.M. on Sunday. 

5) Loudspeakers and amplifiers shall be permitted only between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M.

The ordinance also makes provisions addressing many other activities, including but not limited to, horns, animals, birds, whistles, exhaust, loading or unloading, instruments, outside alarms, public sales, taxi cabs, peddlers, and vendors. 

With these changes, inquiries about noise control in Maple Shade can be provided more specific responses and residents will be more satisfied with police efforts to exercise control over noisy disturbances.