Street noise

The council has a statutory duty to investigate complaints about street noise including vehicles, machinery and equipment including loudspeakers.  

It is an offence to use a loudspeaker in the street: 

  • between 9pm and 8am for any purpose and
  • at any other time for advertising any entertainment, trade or business

Exceptions to this include:

  • loudspeakers used by the emergency services
  • vehicle music systems used for the personal entertainment of the driver
  • vehicle horns used to warn other traffic
  • ice-cream van chimes between 12noon and 7pm

In these situations the loudspeaker must not give reasonable cause for annoyance to others nearby.

Anyone operating loudspeakers outside of these conditions can be automatically prosecuted and may be liable to a fine of up to £5,000 on conviction at a magistrates court. 

If a statutory noise nuisance is confirmed the council may proceed with formal action against an individual by serving an abatement notice.

Read how we deal with complaints about noise