Noise in the Neighbourhood

One of the things that can cause rifts between neighbours is noise. No matter how natural it is for a dog to bark, no matter how necessary it is to mow your lawn, no matter how much you like a certain song, if it reaches unacceptable levels and sounds off at inappropriate times, it will become a nuisance. To avoid getting into conflicts with one another, you and your neighbours should know your local regulations on noise levels. If you are renting a place, then noise issues will usually be discussed in your lease agreement, so you have to study that, too. If, however, your local and national governments do not have laws regarding noise, then you simply need to act on common sense and respect.

As mentioned, certain sounds can be considered nuisances not only if they reach a certain decibel level, but also if the activities that cause the sounds are done at the wrong time. It would be very inconsiderate to keep a loud party going till midnight on a week night. For areas wherein excessive noise is not permitted before 9AM or 10AM during the weekends, it would be considered rude to mow your lawn at 7AM on a Saturday. A dog barking in the dead of night can annoy neighbours, too.

If you have a neighbour who causes unnecessary noise, then your best approach would be to talk to him or her first. Politely explain why the sound is disturbing you, and then ask him to turn down the volume or to stop the activity at that hour. If he refuses to do so, then show him a copy of your lease agreement or your local law. If he is obstinate, then you can talk to your landlord or local authorities over the matter.

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