What is commercial or industrial noise?
Noise from commercial or industrial premises can affect the quality of life for nearby residents and businesses. Such premises may include:
- shops and large retail units
- hotels and restaurants
- licensed events, for example, festivals or concerts
- industrial sites, for example, quarries or factories
- pubs and clubs
We have a legal duty to investigate noise that may be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
What we can investigate
Typical examples of noise sources from these types of business include:
- ventilation or extraction units
- refrigeration motors
- plant and machinery
- early morning deliveries
- amplified music
- vehicle movements
What we cannot investigate
We cannot take action on noise caused by:
- aircraft, this is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority
- individual road vehicles and general road traffic
- some large industrial sites which are regulated by SEPA - in these cases, we will forward any complaint we receive to SEPA, advising you of the action taken