What Constitutes Noise Pollution?

There are many issues surrounding noise pollution within a residential area that are covered by government legislation into what you can and cannot do and what steps you could take to minimise the problems caused by potentially excessive noise and what action could be taken against you if you don’t.

In terms of the problems excessive noise can cause, most disagreements and arguments between neighbours can often be avoided if they are forewarned about potential ‘occasional’ situations which are likely to result in excessive noise. However, whilst excessive noise can be the result of a planned situation, sometimes it’s completely unplanned or somewhat out of your control. However, even in these situations, there are still some precautionary measures you can take.

Parties, Loud Music And Excessive Noise

Reasonable neighbours are not usually ‘killjoys’ and most of us will want to have a party celebration at some time or another. The best way of avoiding any problems with your neighbours, is to tell them in advance that you are having a party, what time it’s going to start and, more importantly, what time you’re planning to end it (or at least the time by which you’ll ensure that they won’t be disturbed by excessive noise – usually related to loud music playing but also by rowdy conversations and boisterous behaviour.

In terms of the ending time, it’s not unreasonable to expect them to agree to a finishing time of the ‘noisy’ element to a party to, say, by 11pm or midnight. That’s not to say you can have the volume at whatever level you want as there are strict laws surrounding that issue. Ending at midnight also doesn’t mean that the party can’t continue beyond that time, but you’ll need to keep the music and the noise down to a reasonable level so as not to disturb neighbours.

You also need to take even greater care and be more sensitive to your neighbours if you’re planning on holding the party outside in the garden where noise travels more easily and where its impact is felt even greater. Better still…why not invite the neighbours?

DIY Projects

Once again, you should let your neighbours know that you are planning a DIY project where both manual and/or power equipment such as hammers and electric drills are being used. Everybody needs to do a bit of DIY now and then so they should be reasonable enough to understand. Agree working hours with your neighbours. You should be courteous enough not to begin any earlier than 8am and not to finish beyond 8pm. These are reasonable enough requests to make yet if your immediate neighbours have young children, you might wish to consider only carrying out DIY projects at weekends when the children are off school.

Alarm Systems

Both burglar and car alarm systems can cause extreme noise pollution and can be one of the biggest causes of agitation amongst neighbours. Most modern alarm systems come fitted with cut off devices these days which silences the alarm after, perhaps, 20 minutes or so.

Obviously, the problems caused by alarms going off usually arise when they are beyond your control. You’re likely to not even be at home to switch the alarm off manually but there are still precautionary measures you can take such as leaving a spare set of keys with trusted friends, family members or even other neighbours who can gain entry to a car or house and immobilise the device on your behalf. If you arrange for this, be sure to let your local council and local police station know the contact details for the people who have been entrusted with this task. Both the police and council do have the authority to immobilise alarm systems themselves by whatever means necessary which can incur extra expense to you.

Incessant dog barking also constitutes noise pollution and this is covered in more depth in another article contained on this website.

Depending on the nature of the noise, the time of day it occurs and the circumstances surrounding it, if matters can’t be resolved and get out of hand, you should contact either the Environmental Health Department of your local authority or the police. For more information about the law on noise pollution in your area, you should check out your local authority’s website to ensure that you are complying with the law or you could face heavy penalties.