We have powers to deal with noise that causes distress (Statutory Noise Nuisance) - this is noise that significantly interferes with the enjoyment of your home. It has to be unreasonable and persistent. There is no set level of noise that is considered to be a statutory noise nuisance.
We can deal with noise disturbance from all types of sources.
This can include:
- Noisy parties
- Loud TVs and stereos
- Pubs and clubs
- Construction and demolition work
- Noisy animals
- Fans and compressors
- Warehouses and factories
- Car and house alarms
- Noisy neighbours
- Open air events
- Places of worship
- Industrial processes
- Air conditioning units
We cannot deal with:
- Road, air and rail traffic
- Noise caused by normal living
- Noise caused by lack of sound insulation in a property.
- People in the street.
Report a noise complaint
If you are disturbed by noise please contact Environmental Health.
If you are disturbed by noise on a Friday or Saturday between 10pm and 3am please call 0800 111 4484
Out of hours noise complaints
Every Friday and Saturday night an Environmental Health Officer from Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council teams up with the street wardens to cover the district of Welwyn and Hatfield. The team is available between 10pm and 3am.
Please ring 0800 111 4484 this will connect you to the council's out of hours general complaints contact centre. Your details will be passed on to an Environmental Health Officer who will visit as soon as possible, accompanied by a street warden. Alternatively, call 101 (the non-emergency police call centre) and they will pass the call onto us. We do need to witness the noise as it affects you and your family so an officer will contact you and a visit will be made to your property.
| Saturday | 10pm to 3am | 0800 111 4484 or 101 |
| Friday | 10pm to 3am | 0800 111 4484 or 101 |
| Operational nights | Operational hours | Telephone numbers |
|---|
Register an alarm keyholder
If your intruder alarm sounds while you're away and is causing a problem for people living and working in the area, we sometimes have to force entry to silence the alarm - and the homeowner covers the cost.
By registering details with us, we can contact your key holder to disable your alarm, preventing the cost and inconvenience of formal action. To register for free please complete and return the 
alarm keyholder registration form.
Additional information
Noise monitoring equipment
Part of our investigation process may involve installing noise monitoring equipment in your property. The following video provides a guide to its operation:
