A Utah resident who said one neighbor was blasting music outside through a 700-watt speaker for months turned to Reddit for help.
Repeated complaints had not ended the disruption. "The cops show up, tell him to turn it down, and then leave," they wrote. "Rinse and repeat."
Here's what to know
The resident said neighbors had filed noise complaints but were told that quiet hours don't start until 10:30 p.m., making it seem like the loud music can be played as long as it stops then.
They said it was a persistent drain on daily life, writing, "I am losing my mind," and noting the issue began in March.
"Is there any actual recourse when someone is legally terrorizing the block for seven months out of the year?" they asked.
One commenter wrote: "Check for noise ordinances. Where I live it's a limit of 55 decibels at 100 feet (or something like that)." Someone else cautioned, "Don't trust cops to know the rules."
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More background
The loud music played "day in and day out," the poster said, and it happened when neighbors were most likely to keep windows open, spend time outside, and use their yards.
The matter was more than a disagreement between two people, affecting the entire neighborhood.
A loud outdoor setup can affect everyone within earshot. Repeated disturbances can lead to police responses, code enforcement calls, and civil litigation.
What can be done?
Commenters urged the resident to collect evidence. "Forget the police," one said. "Report him to your local city code enforcement office." They recommended using a cheap decibel meter to take indoor and outdoor readings over a day or two, then submitting those results with photos as part of a complaint.
Another common theme was strength in numbers. One user suggested organizing the neighborhood. "Every hour that he is doing this, a different person should very nicely go ask him to lower the volume," they wrote. Someone else recommended involving a local government official and using social media to help neighbors coordinate their complaints.
"Look into how you sue under private nuisance laws. You and your neighbors can band together to make a stronger case," one user wrote.
Where can I learn more?
Noise disputes can send homeowners looking for ways to make their homes and yards livable again, as these stories show.
• One homeowner turned to noise-blocking landscaping after an inconsiderate neighbor kept disrupting the yard.
• Scientists have warned that everyday traffic noise may carry health risks comparable to secondhand smoke.
• One homeowner considered creative noise-blocking landscaping to soften the constant roar from a busy street.
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