Under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the definition of statutory nuisance, Brighton & Hove City Council can investigate and deal with some types of noise.
Find out what counts as a statutory nuisance from GOV.UK.
In order to take action, the noise has to be significant enough to disturb you in your home and interfere with everyday life.
The noise therefore needs to continue for a long time or happen regularly and be unreasonable.
We can investigate noise from:
loud music
televisions
dogs barking
DIY and building works
commercial/licensed premises such as equipment or loud music
Brighton & Hove City Council will not investigate noise which is unlikely to constitute a statutory nuisance under the legislation such as sounds of daily living.
Examples of noise that will not be investigated include:
noise from children playing either inside, in gardens, or in playgrounds
babies or children crying
neighbours talking either inside a property or in a garden
objects being dropped
impact sound from footsteps, doors closing and switches operating in adjacent premises or communal areas in residential blocks
snoring
toilet flushing
washing machines, kitchen equipment and other domestic appliances operating during daytime hours which is typically between the hours of 7am to 10pm
garden equipment operating such as lawn movers, leaf blowers, and shredders
‘one off’ parties
engine noise from cars starting or warming up
traffic noise but you can find out who to contact about transport noise from GOV.UK
aircraft noise
fireworks
noise in the street which does not arise from a vehicle, machinery, equipment or buskers, for example, noise from people in the street does not constitute a statutory nuisance
noise which arises within a premises, such as noise caused by a person living in shared accommodation and affecting a person living in the same accommodation
wind chimes
noise from wild animals such as seagulls
This is because case law stops us from taking action over such matters. Find out more about why we cannot deal with poor insulation and everyday noise.