Don’t you just hate it when things like this story happen?
A woman and her kids were on their way to a “peaceful holiday” at a resort. Then her neighbors disrupted the quiet by blasting loud music that kept them awake all night.
Do your neighbors make a lot of noise and disturb the household’s calm late at night or on weekends? We’re aware it’s not quite palatable.
Although, It’s not news that some cohabitation norms must be followed by all persons equally. However, it’s possible that some of your neighbors may disobey these regulations.
So, what do you do? If you’re currently experiencing excessive neighborhood noise at night, there are ways to go about it.
Read on to learn more.
5 Ways To Stop Your Neighbors Playing Loud Music at Night
It’s practical.
The first step you should take is to determine if the noise from your neighbor is continuous or occasional.
It’s possible that what you’re hearing is part of a special celebration, such as a party, but not likely because you keep hearing it.
Here are some things you can do if your neighbor keeps playing loud and disturbing music at night:
1. Speak with your next-door neighbor
Suppose the obnoxious noises are not a one-time or justifiable occurrence. In that case, the first step should be to speak with the neighbor. During this period, many disputes with noisy neighbors are settled if they’re not complicated people to deal with.
The most important thing is to talk amicably. How we express things is far more significant than the particular words we choose.
A quick tip: Honesty must be your rallying cry. It would be best if you properly let your neighbor be aware of your intentions straight away. Be real; express your worries to understand the trouble he is causing.
2. Use noise-canceling headphones
A man purchased a set of noise-canceling headphones because he was tired of speaking to his neighbor.
Why?
Every time he went to knock on his neighbor’s door, he was met with an irritable expression on his face, and after being asked, the neighbor always turned down the music for that particular day. The next day, though, it’s back to normal levels.
You could do the same if you have an easy way with music and sounds plugged into your ear.
3. Speak with some members of the community
If your neighbor does not respond to your complaints, ignores them, or even refuses to speak amicably, you will have to take the problem up with other members of your neighborhood. What are the chances? Perhaps you aren’t the only one who has been affected.
How do I stop my neighbors from playing loud music?
Although we’ll recommend that the first few things work best, there are times it’s not effective enough as your neighbor may be quite inconsiderate and every pleading falls on deaf ears.
No one likes taking things a step further, but it’s necessary for your health and well-being in this case. Here are ways to finally put an end to your next-door neighbor’s constant disturbance- this time for good:
4. Obtain a copy of the city or county ordinance that governs your area.
If you can’t work out your issues with your loud neighbors by talking to them, the next step is to obtain a copy of your local noise ordinances. Thankfully, excessive and unreasonable noise is prohibited under city and county regulations, with noises like automobile explosions, high-volume televisions, and house stereos included.
This will show them evidence of your rights. So, neighbors who don’t follow the rules might face warnings or perhaps legal action. Next is to make a copy to give to your next-door neighbor as a pleasant, civilized reminder to tone down the volume on bothersome noises.
5. Act once and for all
Why shouldn’t you? You’ve already communicated all of your concerns to the relevant individuals; you’ve completed your homework and they didn’t respond the right way. You must now take action and call the cops. It’s not nice for anyone, but it’s your health that’s on the line.
Officers of the law will be more sympathetic to you if they perceive that you have attempted to address the situation on your own several times.
How late can you play music at night? (What does the law say in U.S. states?)
The law establishes a maximum amount of noise permissible during night hours to limit noise annoyance from homes and businesses.
When noise levels surpass the authorized threshold, your district council has the authority to investigate and take action against the neighbor or other source of the noise.
The Noise Control Act of 1972 in the United States places noise pollution under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
For example, on weekdays, the quiet hours are defined as 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.; however, on weekends and holidays, the period is extended to 11 p.m. or even midnight, lasting until 8 a.m.
What is an Acceptable Noise Level?
According to the law, it’s important you remember that the noise level you create at home with the windows closed cannot exceed 35 decibels in broad daylight.
However, when night falls, and the windows are closed, the noise level should never go higher than a maximum of 30 decibels.
Beyond these thresholds, you have every right to register a complaint against your neighbors, and even ongoing and preventable nuisances can be reported, even if no measurement is taken.
It means if all things are equal, you shouldn’t comprehend what your neighbors are saying or what they are watching on TV.
If you do, it means the limitations have most likely been surpassed.
Can You Call 911 For Noisy Neighbors?
911 is an emergency telephone number that is used in the United States. In this case, breaking the noise level law is not an emergency case; you should contact your police department’s non-emergency line.
Non-emergency calls are directed to the officer(s) on duty in our little town. Please don’t contact 911 unless you fear your neighbor is being excessively loud because he’s killing someone (or something else horrible is going on).
The non-emergency hotline serves this purpose. Keep the phone number for your local police enforcement department in your wallet.
So, when should you call 911?
911 is the number to dial to report fighting, screams, gunfire, explosions, dangerous noise from a huge party or gathering, or suspicious breaking of glass or wood.
Is it Legal to Play Loud Music in Public?
At this point, it’s essential to draw the line, it’s not illegal when music is played in public places, but it is when the limit is exceeded and it goes beyond the stated time.
For example, you have the chance to complain to the district council if you are bothered by loud music at pubs and clubs. If a venue rejects a council warning regarding noise, the council can take action against them for violating their entertainment license.
If it’s not a club, most authorities in the United States may contact persons responsible for the noise and tell them to cease if they play loud music (or a loud radio, etc.) for long periods, causing neighbors to complain that the noise level and duration is a public nuisance.
A refusal or failure to comply by individuals responsible for the noise will most likely lead to arrest by the police, depending on the specific regulations of the location in question.
“Disturbing the peace” or “Creating and/or sheltering a public nuisance” or “Disorderly behavior” are examples of common infractions.
Any of the following individuals must be penalized by imprisonment in the county jail or a fine, or both such imprisonment and fine.
What does this mean? The short answer is that it is illegal to play deafening music at any time.
Although certain local governments may have stricter time-of-day ordinances, state law implies that the law can be administered at any time, whether day or night.
It’s not only impolite but also arrogant and insulting. It’s impolite because you’re forcing other people to listen to your music; there comes the point where the volume is too loud to ignore; and it’s insulting because you’re intentionally or unintentionally creating a situation that will only lead to confrontation, where people will call you a jerk and tell you to turn it off, and it’s your fault, not theirs.
Also, it’s arrogant because you believe your musical tastes are objectively so great that they should be shared with everyone else not caring about their preferences.
Conclusion
By now you’ll have realized that you can’t avoid bothersome neighbors, they’re a constant thing except you live in a very unpopulated neighborhood.
What to do? Speak with them with the hope of not settling it with the law and ending up as enemies; remind them of your rights which complement your request.
Doesn’t work?
Ask a mediator or get the authorities involved.
We all deserve peace and respect for boundaries in our lives; we hope this article has helped you see how to get it.
FAQs
How do you record noisy Neighbours for evidence? ›
To make sure that the neighbor noise is heard and perceived clearly, you must ensure that the generated audio files are high quality. Buy a device that captures noise from a few feet away. On top of that, make sure the device can store recordings clearly as if you're standing next to the source of the noise.
What is the solution for loud neighbors? ›The best way to resolve issues with a noisy neighbor is also the simplest—speak to them about it directly. They may be unaware of how much noise they're making, and a polite conversation about what you're hearing may be all it takes to fix the issue. Discuss your sleeping schedules and which hours you need quiet.
How do I get my neighbors to be quiet at night? ›- Gently knock. Try knocking a couple of times on the adjoining wall to get their attention. ...
- Politely talk to your neighbor. Going next door or down the hall doesn't mean confrontation. ...
- Suggest a solution. ...
- Bear gifts. ...
- Contact your landlord.
It's hard to imagine, but your neighbor has their own emotional needs for playing this loud music. We don't know what is going on in their lives. They might be trying to make a living as a musician or creating art for self expression.
Is there an app to record noisy neighbors? ›The Noise App gives everyone a simple way to capture noise that is disturbing you and report it safely and securely to your municipality or landlord. The Noise App is a smart tool for professionals investigating complaints about noise and anti-social behaviour and makes it easier for everyone involved to resolve them.
How do you use audio recording as evidence in court? ›If you have recordings that were legally obtained, then whether you can use that evidence in court will depend on your state's rules of evidence. Generally, you may have to prove the authenticity (validity/truthfulness) of a recording to the judge and prove whose voices or images are on the recording.
How do I ask my neighbor to turn down music? ›Warn Your Neighbor in Writing
If things don't improve, ask your neighbor again -- this time in writing -- to quiet down. Don't make threats, but state that if the situation doesn't improve you'll be forced to notify the authorities. Enclose a copy of the noise ordinance.
- Speaker music can be cancelled out from interfering sound waves.
- Use active noise control to reduce the sound of speaker from far away.
- A CB Radio can amplify AM signals and damage another speaker.
- An Annoy-O-Tron can make a physically disturbing sound in other speakers.
Most local noise ordinances designate "quiet hours"—for example, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekdays and until 8 or 9 a.m. on weekends.
How do I write a complaint letter about a noisy neighbor? ›In your letter, include the specific issue, how it's affecting you, any steps you've taken to try and fix the problem and what expectations you have moving forward. You should also make a note to yourself to follow up on your noise complaint if you don't hear back after a while.
Can loud music damage your house? ›
When it comes to listening to bass, you need to be careful. That's because it can damage your house over time and even instantly, depending on its volume. Despite low-frequency sounds, it is enough to cause cracks, especially on walls.
How can I listen to loud music without bothering my neighbors? ›If you plan to use speakers, then it is best to place them against the wall and facing the outside of the apartment. In this way, the resonances will be less noticeable to your neighbors. Also, you should add mass to your doors, since these are usually plywood and are practically hollow.
What is the noisy neighbor effect? ›The noisy neighbor effect occurs when an application or VM uses the majority of available resources and causes network performance issues for others on the shared infrastructure. Compare single-tenant and multi-tenant environments. A lack of bandwidth is one cause of network performance issues.
How do you record noise levels? ›The best way to measure noise levels is to use a dedicated sound level meter, but there are also several sound meter apps that allow you to measure noise using Android or iOS devices, such as iPhones.
Can I audio record for evidence? ›California has some of the strongest laws in the country on wiretapping. Put simply, absent consent of all parties, they are not only not admissible into evidence, but a crime to obtain and allow the “injured party” to sue.
Can noise be an invasion of privacy? ›Another way that neighbors can invade your privacy and personal space is through loud noise and other forms of disturbance. Whether it's through loud music, constant talking, or even just walking loudly through the shared walls of your home, excessive noise can make it difficult to relax and enjoy your own space.
How do you record Neighbours slamming doors? ›Ask a friend if they have a recording device or look for one second hand. Get the recorder as close to the ceiling as possible or go up to their apartment, just outside the door and record.