Report a noise problem

We are subjected to a certain degree of noise as part of everyday life. Some noise can be unreasonable depending on how loud it is, the time of the day and how long the noise has been going on for.

If you’re having a problem with noise like loud music or barking dogs you should first try to have a friendly conversation with the person causing it – they may not be aware they are causing a problem.

If you are unable to resolve the issue you should contact us to assist you. You also have the right to take your own legal action.

Christmas hours service

• Friday 24 December – no service after 9.30pm
• Monday 27 December – cover from 9am
• Tuesday 28 December to Friday 31 December – 1pm to 11.30pm
• Friday 31 December – no service after 9pm
• Saturday 1 January 2022 – cover from 1pm

Noise we investigate

• Loud music
• Noisy neighbours
• Party noise
• Animal noise
• Builders noise

Noise we do not investigate

• Noise from aircraft. Our Environmental Enforcement Team are unable to take any action regarding noise from aircraft as a statutory nuisance. If you are affected by such noise, please contact the source or destination airfield directly (if they are within the district), or the Contact the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for further advice. If you are disturbed by unreasonable activities from aircraft operating from North Weald Airfield contact the Airfield Operations Team by calling 01992 564200 or email nwoperations@eppingforestdc.gov.uk.
• One-off incidents, or incidents that only last a short time period
• Noise from construction work if carried out within normal working hours between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday and between 8am and 1pm on Saturday. No noisy works should occur on Sundays or Bank Holidays. Only limited action can be taken to ensure the noise level is minimised as some work is unavoidably noisy
• DIY at the weekend, we recommend that any noisy DIY occurs at reasonable hours during the day
• Normal living noise such as babies crying, people arguing, children playing, slamming of doors and occasional dog barking will not constitute a statutory nuisance
• Traffic noise issues should be reported to Essex County Council

Telephone 01992 564608 during office hours or 01992 564000 at all other times.

Noise nuisance diary

You may find it helpful to record details of the noise disturbing you.

A noise nuisance diary contains entries for the time, description and the effect the noise had on you. We can use these to show the extent of the problem when dealing with your complaint.

Download our noise nuisance diary:

• Noise nuisance diary (docx 14KB)
• Noise nuisance diary (pdf 75KB)

Read the noise investigation policy

• Noise investigation policy (pdf 467KB)