Noise Complaints
How to report noise nuisance to your local council, your legal rights, and what to expect from the process.
Your Rights Under the Law
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Sections 79-82) gives local authorities the power to deal with noise that amounts to a statutory nuisance. A statutory nuisance is noise that is either:
- Prejudicial to health — causes or is likely to cause harm to physical or mental health
- A nuisance — unreasonably and substantially interferes with the use or enjoyment of a home
Common sources that can be investigated include: loud music, barking dogs, building works, commercial premises (pubs, restaurants, factories), alarms, and noisy neighbours.
How to Make a Noise Complaint
- Keep a noise diary — record dates, times, duration, and type of noise for at least 2 weeks. This is essential evidence for the council.
- Contact your council's environmental health team — most councils have an online noise complaint form. You can also phone or write.
- The council investigates — an environmental health officer (EHO) will assess whether the noise amounts to a statutory nuisance. They may install noise monitoring equipment or visit at the time the noise occurs.
- Abatement notice — if the noise is confirmed as a statutory nuisance, the council must serve an abatement notice requiring the noise to stop or be reduced.
- Non-compliance — if the abatement notice is not followed, the council can prosecute. Fines of up to £5,000 for domestic premises and £20,000 for commercial premises.
What the Council Cannot Help With
Some noise sources are outside the scope of environmental health:
- General road traffic — contact Highways England or your MP
- Aircraft noise — contact the airport's noise complaint line
- Railway noise — contact Network Rail
- Military noise — contact the Ministry of Defence
Section 82 — Taking Action Yourself
If the council fails to act, or you want to pursue the matter independently, Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 allows individuals to take a private prosecution in the Magistrates' Court. You need to give the noise maker at least 3 days' written notice before proceedings. If successful, the court can order the nuisance to be stopped and award compensation.
Night Noise (11pm — 7am)
Many councils have dedicated night noise teams that can respond in real-time to noise complaints between 11pm and 7am. Officers can serve immediate warning notices and, in extreme cases, seize noise-making equipment. Check your council's website for their night noise service number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a statutory noise nuisance?
A statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 is noise that is prejudicial to health or a nuisance. This is assessed by an environmental health officer based on factors including volume, duration, frequency, time of day, and the character of the neighbourhood. There is no fixed decibel limit — it depends on context.
Can I complain about road noise?
You can report road noise to your local council and to Highways England (for motorways and trunk roads). However, general road traffic noise is rarely treated as a statutory nuisance because it is considered a normal part of the environment. Councils may investigate unusually loud vehicles, illegal modifications, or construction traffic on residential roads.
What are the legal noise limits at night?
There are no specific decibel limits in UK law for residential noise. However, the WHO recommends night-time noise below 40 dB outside bedrooms. Local authorities assess nuisance based on whether the noise unreasonably and substantially interferes with the use and enjoyment of your home. Night noise (11pm-7am) is treated more seriously.
How long does a noise complaint take to resolve?
Initial response from environmental health is typically within 5-10 working days. If the noise is confirmed, the council will serve an abatement notice giving a deadline (usually 28 days) for the noise to stop or be reduced. If not complied with, prosecution can follow — fines up to £5,000 for domestic premises and £20,000 for commercial.
Related Guides
- Decibel guide — understand what dB levels mean and WHO guidelines
- Soundproofing guide — reduce noise yourself with practical solutions
- Noise and house prices — how noise affects property values
- Flight path checker — aircraft noise complaint contacts by airport
- Motorway noise — affected postcodes and Highways England contacts
- Railway noise — Network Rail complaint routes