[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Evesham 2-2-1993 by Ord. No. 3-2-93. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Violations and penalties — See Ch. 1, Art. I.
Alarm systems — See Ch. 43.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 64.
Dogs — See Ch. 67.
Peddlers and solicitors — See Ch. 111.
It is found and declared that:
A. 
The making and creation of loud, unnecessary or unusual noises within the limits of the Township of Evesham is a condition which has existed for some time and the extent and volume of such noises is increasing.
B. 
The making, creation or maintenance of such loud, unnecessary, unnatural or unusual noises which are prolonged, unusual and unnatural in their time, place and use affect and are a detriment to public health, comfort, morals, convenience, safety, welfare and prosperity of the residents of the Township of Evesham.
C. 
The necessity, in the public interest, for the provisions and prohibitions hereinafter contained and enacted, is declared as a matter of legislative determination and public policy, and it is further declared that the provisions and prohibitions hereinafter contained and enacted are in pursuance of and for the purpose of securing and promoting the public health, comfort, morals, convenience, safety, welfare and prosperity and the peace and quiet of the Township of Evesham and its inhabitants.
A. 
No person shall make, continue or cause to be made or continued any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise or any noise which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, morals, peace or safety of others within the limits of the Township of Evesham.
B. 
The following acts, among others, are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises in violation of this section:
(1) 
Animals; birds. The keeping of any animal or bird, which by causing frequent or long-continued noise disturbs the comfort or repose of any persons in the vicinity.
(2) 
Construction or repairing of buildings. The erection, including excavating, demolition, alteration or repair of any building or structure other than between the hours as defined in Chapter 135, Article VII, § 135-34A, of the Land Use Legislation of the Township of Evesham,[1] except in case of urgent necessity in the interest of public health and safety, and then only with a permit from the Township Manager or his designee. Such permit may be granted for a period not to exceed three days or less while the emergency continues and may be renewed for periods of three days or less while the emergency continues. If the Township Manager or his designee should determine that the public health and safety will not be impaired by the erection, demolition, alteration or repair of any building or structure or the excavation of streets and highways within the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and if the Township Manager or his designee further determines that loss or inconvenience would result to any party in interest, he may grant permission for such work to be done within the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., upon application being made at the time the permit for the work is awarded or during the progress of work.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said subsection prohibited construction activity between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(3) 
Defect in vehicle or load. The use of any automobile, motorcycle or vehicle so out of repair, so loaded or in such manner as to create loud and unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling or other noise.
(4) 
Exhausts. The discharge into the open air of the exhaust of any steam engine, stationary internal-combustion engine, motor boat or motor vehicle except through a muffler or other device which will effectively prevent loud or explosive noises therefrom.
(5) 
Hawkers; peddlers. The shouting and crying of peddlers, hawkers and vendors which disturbs the peace and quiet of the neighborhood even though licensed according to law.
(6) 
Horns and signaling devices. The sounding of any horn or signaling device on any automobile, motorcycle, bus, truck, building or other vehicle on any street or public place of the Township, except as a danger warning or for the normal celebrations for weddings, football games and similar events; the creation by means of any such signaling device of any unreasonably loud or harsh sound; and the sounding of any device for an unnecessary and unreasonable period of time.
(7) 
Loudspeakers; amplifiers for advertising. The using, operating or permitting to be played, used or operated of any radio set, television set, musical instrument, phonograph, loudspeaker, sound amplifier or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound which is cast upon the public streets for the purpose of commercial advertising or attracting the attention of the public to any building or structure.
(8) 
Profane language. The uttering of any loud, offensive, violent, indecent or profane language.
(9) 
Radios and phonographs. The using, operating or permitting to be played, used or operated any radio, television set, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet or comfort of the neighboring inhabitants, or at any time with louder volume than is necessary for convenient hearing for the person or persons who are in the room, vehicle, chamber or yard in which such machine or device is operated and who are voluntary listeners thereto. The operation of any such set, instrument, phonograph, machine or device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. Sunday through 8:00 a.m. Monday morning and the same thereafter on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and between 11:00 p.m. Friday and 8:00 a.m. Saturday and 11:00 p.m. Saturday and 8:00 a.m. Sunday, in such manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the building, structure, vehicle or yard in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
(10) 
Schools, courts, churches, hospitals. The creation of any excessive noise on any street adjacent to any school, institution of learning or church while the same are in use, or adjacent to any hospital or nursing home, which unreasonably interferes with the workings of such institution or which disturbs or unduly annoys patients in the hospital or nursing home, provided that conspicuous signs are displayed in such streets indicating that the same is a school or hospital street.
(11) 
Whistles. The blowing of any whistle except to give notice of the time to begin or stop work or as a warning of fire or danger, or upon request of the proper Township authority; or as may be required by general law or ordinance.
(12) 
Yelling; shouting. Yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling or singing on the public streets, particularly between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time or place so as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any office, or in any dwelling, hotel or other type of residence, or of any persons in the vicinity.
(13) 
Other. Any and all other unnecessary, unusual or disturbing acts which may be determined by the Municipal Court not enumerated herein. The above enumeration is intended only to give typical illustrations or prohibited noise and shall not be construed as exclusive.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit:
A. 
The owner or occupant of a dwelling at a reasonable hour from mowing the lawn around such dwelling with a power mower, or removing snow with a power blower, or from making minor repairs necessary for normal maintenance of such dwelling at any time with any equipment other than bulldozers, tractors, jackhammers or gasoline-powered saws, provided that the making of such minor repairs is not accompanied by any loud, unnecessary or unusual noise.
B. 
Bells, chimes, music between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. from any church or music in keeping with the Christmas season during the Christmas season from any private or public source.
C. 
Playing by a band or orchestra in a hall, nonresidential building or in the public parks for regular concerts or dances or other events consistent with the Zoning Ordinance[1] or by virtue of special permission of the Township Council.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 160, Zoning.
D. 
Parades approved by the Township Council according to law.
E. 
Police, fire, ambulance, air raid or other sirens which may be operated by the Township or civil defense or other governmental authorities.
F. 
All farm-related activities taking place on property assessed under the Farmland Assessment Act.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 54:4-23.1 et seq.
A. 
Sound trucks may be used by civic, charitable, religious and other nonprofit corporations when approved according to law or by special permission of the Township Council, provided that no commercial or advertising material is programmed, and provided further that the use of the sound truck is limited to the hours and routes prescribed, which in no case shall be before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and not at all on Sunday.
B. 
Moving sound trucks shall keep to the extreme right hand side of the road and shall proceed at a speed of not less than 10 miles per hour.
C. 
Stationary sound trucks are prohibited in all residential zones in the Township of Evesham, but may be operated in commercial zones during the hours referred to hereinabove.
D. 
For the purposes of this section, "residential zones" shall mean the residence zones as shown and described on the Zoning Map of the Township of Evesham, and "commercial zones" shall mean and include all parts of the Township of Evesham other than the residential zones referred to above.
Penalties for any violation of this chapter shall be provided for as set forth in § 1-15 of the Code of the Township of Evesham.