Noise nuisance
If you are experiencing a serious noise disturbance and have been unable to resolve this, let us know.
We can only take action if our officers can investigate, gather evidence and witness unreasonable noise levels.
Before you start
Before you contact us, try talking to your neighbours first. They may not realise they are causing a problem.
Noise we can investigate
We can investigate:
- regular loud music or parties
- noise from pubs, clubs, bars or street speakers
- disruptive noise from neighbours, such as shouting, slamming doors or DIY at night
- building or vehicle alarms
- repeated dog barking or other domestic animal noise (we can’t deal with wildlife like foxes)
- loud ventilation, air con, or fans from shops
- building site noise outside permitted hours:
- work is allowed on Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
- work is allowed on Saturday from 8am to 1pm
- no noisy work is allowed on Sundays or bank holidays
Noise we can't investigate
We can't investigate:
- normal household sounds, like:
- talking, footsteps, toilets flushing
- doors closing, furniture being moved
- children playing or crying
- vacuuming or washing machines (unless used late at night)
- street noise, including:
- engine revving
- shouting or rowdy behaviour
- car horns
- road traffic, aircraft, or railway noise
- cheering or noise from outdoor sports
- noise from an unknown source
- noise caused by poor sound insulation
- anonymous complaints
Further guidance
There’s no fixed legal noise level that automatically counts as “too loud” or guarantees action from us. There’s also no set time of day or night when music or noise must stop.
We assess each case individually to decide if it could be a statutory nuisance.
Procedure for investigating complaints
What happens when you make a noise complaint
- an officer may call you to discuss the issue and offer to send a warning letter to the person causing the noise.
- we'll send you a diary sheet to record the noise over 14 days.
- you return the completed diary sheet so we can assess if it may be a statutory nuisance.
- we will send a letter to the person you're complaining about. We'll tell you when this has been done.
- if the noise continues, keep recording it on the diary sheets and send them back to us.
- an officer will investigate. We may offer to install recording equipment (there may be delays during busy periods like the summer).
- if the noise is witnessed or there's enough evidence, we may serve a legal notice.
- if the noise continues and an officer witnesses a breach of the notice, we may begin prosecution.
- in serious cases, we may also seize noise-making equipment while legal action is ongoing.
Your identity
We won’t share your name or address without your permission, but the person may guess who made the complaint.
If we take legal action, we may need to reveal your details. We’ll talk to you about this first.
Diary sheets
Complete a diary sheet to record details of the noise:
- note down the start and stop times
- note down the address where the nuisance comes from
- you may need to swear in court that they are an accurate record
- include a record of when you are away for at least one day
- keep the diary for at least one week but two or three weeks would be better
- don't forget your name and address at the top of the sheet
- we will normally share any information you provide with other departments within the Council and the Police unless you tell us that you do not wish us to do so
Make sure that you:
- describe the type of nuisance that you are being subjected to (e.g. loud radio, dogs barking)
- describe how bad the nuisance levels are (e.g. could not hear television). It is important that you do not exaggerate
- include the effects that the nuisance has on your life (e.g. not able to sleep)
Construction and building site noise
Construction and building site noise
If you are being disturbed by construction noise outside of the permitted hours then we will visit the construction site and advise them of the hours for 'noisy' working.
Generally, the permitted hours for noisy construction works are:
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- Saturday, 8am to 1pm
- Sundays and bank holidays, no working
Emergency/essential works (gas works, railway maintenance or road surface maintenance) may need to take place at night or otherwise in unsocial hours. In such cases, the Council would only intervene if we felt the contractor was acting unreasonably.
If the disturbance continues, we will contact the contractor/company again and you may be asked to complete diary sheets.
If there is no improvement in the situation we will look to collect evidence to support your allegation, either by installing noise-monitoring equipment or by carrying out monitoring visits. If sufficient evidence is gathered supporting the allegations, then a legal notice will be served on the construction company requiring them to abate the nuisance.
If the notice is not complied with, evidence of breaches will be collected and court action, subject to legal advice, may be started.