Council To Amend Morristown's Proposed Noise-Violation Rule

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Town Council brought forth its first public discussion Thursday on the proposal to put the town's noise-violation policies in line with the state's "Model Noise Ordinance." But the governing body delayed a potential hearing on the matter, since they're looking to make one exception.

The state's Noise Control Act of 1971 gives cities and towns specific policies they can adopt for enforcing noise violations. Adopting the policies gives municipalities approval from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. But Town Council is looking to amend one part of the policy that would restrict use of loud landscaping tools to certain hours on weekends.

New Jersey's model ordinance prohibits property owners from using landscaping or yardwork tools from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. every day, unless it's emergency work. Morristown is looking to carry over its current restriction, which prohibits weekend use from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.

The model ordinance addresses noises from landscaping tools to music devices to barking dogs. For instance, the ordinance would include a provision to prevent barking, howling, yelping or squawking for five uninterrupted minutes or intermittently for 20 minutes — defined as two vocalizations per minute or more per minute in that period.

Read more: Quiet Down: Morristown Looks To Change Noise-Violation Rules

The DEP has indicated it would accept the amendment from Morristown, according to council members. But since the town is awaiting DEP approval, they scheduled the public hearing for the ordinance to July 13's Town Council meeting.

The ordinance, if passed, would give Morristown police a more precise process for enforcing noise violations. The town would purchase two noise-monitoring devices and get multiple officers trained on them.

"The reason for the ordinance is also to add objectivity," said 1st Ward Council Member Robert Iannaccone. "The concept of what the sound is, is really left for police to judge, as opposed to actual measurements with science and objectivity behind it."

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