Noise nuisance

Noise is unwanted sound, which is a subjective judgement. One person’s music may be another’s nuisance. Noise is a source of annoyance and stress and can even damage our hearing if it is very loud. We may be exposed to stressful levels of noise at home and at work. Excessive and unreasonable noise can make someone’s life a misery.

The law imposes set limits of exposure to loud noise in the workplace, yet there are no such controls on noise nuisance which affects us at home, even though it can be a statutory nuisance i.e. above specified levels deemed to be safe.

Whether noise amounts to a statutory nuisance depends amongst other things upon how loud it is, how often it happens and for how long, its tonal characteristics, and the reason why it is being made.

We have powers to deal with problems from a wide range of noise sources, including neighbour noise, noise from demolition or construction sites, noise or music from licensed premises (pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants), burglar alarms, vehicle alarms and audible bird scarers.

If you wish to refer a noise problem to us or you need advice on any matter relating to noise please contact us.

You can find more information about neighbourhood noise problems and reporting noise problems on our neighbourhood nuisances page.

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