The State of New Jersey's Noise Control Act of 1971 authorized the NJDEP to promulgate codes, rules and regulations relating to the control and abatement of noise. The Department has developed a Model Noise Ordinance that can be adopted by local municipalities. The Noise Control Act allows municipalities to adopt noise control ordinances that are more stringent than the State code.

The Office of Local Environmental Management (OLEM) will provide assistance to county and municipal governing bodies in the development and adoption of a local noise ordinance, to ensure that all local noise control ordinances are consistent with the Noise Control Act and comply with its requirements.

The NJDEP promulgated noise regulations to control noise from stationary commercial and industrial sources in 1974, pursuant to the Noise Control Act of 1971, N.J.S.A. 13:1G-1 et seq. Within the noise regulations, there are established sound level standards of 50 decibels during nighttime (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) and 65 decibels during daytime.