In old apartment buildings there is an old problem - low-quality sound insulation. Although this problem has existed for a long time, not everyone living in these houses tries to follow the basic rules of community life. Many people in apartments listen to loud music during the day, which prevents others from resting during the daytime on weekends or reading or writing on weekdays. It is possible to rein in a troublemaker, but it is not so easy.
Apartment house
Is it possible to listen to music loudly during the day in an apartment?
According to the 2021 law, you can listen to music on weekends and weekdays, but only on condition that the sound strength does not exceed 30 dB. However, taking into account the fact that the walls in apartment buildings are thin and conduct noise too well, the sound needs to be turned down lower. Otherwise there may be serious problems with neighbors.
No sounds can be heard
Although, according to the law, a music lover may be right, there is no point in quarreling with neighbors. The optimal solution may be to install high-quality sound insulation in your apartment or room.
Administrative responsibility for noise
According to the above-mentioned bill in 2021 on amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, law enforcement agencies will be able to impose a fine for the following:
- loud scream in the apartment
- the sound of pyrotechnics under apartment windows
- faulty noisy household appliances
- performing repair work at night
- rearranging furniture at night
- loud music
It should be understood that sounds that systematically interfere with the comfortable living of residents in neighboring apartments may become a reason for filing complaints, which will be followed by administrative penalties.
Actions of a person who is forced to listen to loud music
Loud noise negatively affects brain function. The person becomes irritable and finds it difficult to concentrate on one thing.
Loud music during the day
The main sufferers from daytime noise are most often pregnant women, pensioners and people working night shifts.
Constant irritation will sooner or later cause aggression on the part of the neighbor, who is forced to listen to loud music or songs all day long.
If attempts to persuade a neighbor to turn down the music are unsuccessful, then the police and the judge are called to help. However, it will not be possible to force a music lover to maintain order legally. It is quite possible that one of the neighbors, enraged by the loud music, will decide to punish him personally.
When is it permissible to listen to songs?
This is an extreme measure, and music is hardly worth such sacrifices. No one can return lost health to a music lover. Therefore, you can listen to music, but it is better to do it either with headphones or at a low volume level.
How many hours can you make noise on weekdays?
On a normal working day, the following rules apply: it is allowed to make noise from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., in some regions of Russia this time period is shifted by an hour, that is, you can make noise from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Construction and repair work on weekdays can be carried out from 9 am to 7 or 8 pm, also depending on the region of location. In case of violation of this order and, for example, carrying out repair work in the evening at nine o’clock or later, the violator faces administrative liability in the form of a fine.
How does a music lover perceive the situation?
A lover of loud music perceives neighbors' complaints as annoying noise, and often does not understand why he should turn down the volume. After all, he doesn't break the law. You can listen to music during the day, but at night he doesn’t turn it on.
High audibility
Such a person is outraged by why he should obey general rules and not act as he wants. This behavior is understandable, since the age of a music lover usually varies from 10 to 25 years. Most often this is an unemployed and familyless person.
Fine for violating silence in St. Petersburg
According to the latest edition of the Law on Silence in St. Petersburg, people making loud noises are subject to financial punishment. There is a regulated system of fines for individuals, officials and legal entities.
If the violation occurred for the first time, then you can limit yourself to a warning. If you break the law again, you will have to bear responsibility for:
- For exceeding the norm established by law and loud sounds, such as whistling, singing, TV, musical installations and others, a fine for citizens is from 500 to 5000 rubles, for persons performing official duties, it is significantly higher from 25,000 to 50,000 rubles, for organizations from 50,000 to 200,000 rub.
- For repairs at the wrong time, residents can pay 3-5 thousand rubles, performing duties will be punished by 25-50 thousand, companies by 250,000 - 500,000.
- For construction at night, a fine of 5 thousand citizens, 25-50 thousand officials and 500,000-1000,000 rubles for organizations is required.
It's worth thinking before you make noise. Perhaps it is better to maintain order and respect the peace of other citizens!
It's not just loud music in the apartment that's annoying
A factor that can piss off neighbors is not only loud music, but also other noise. No one forbids behaving loudly in an apartment during the day, but this can also lead to conflict with neighbors. Screaming, knocking, stomping, howling of a dog or loud meowing of a cat, crying of children - all this can be annoying, especially if the noise is made regularly.
Silence standards in the Russian Federation 2021
When noise is not a nuisance
The following noise sources do not constitute an administrative offense:
- noise coming from animals and birds in their natural habitat;
- baby crying;
- operation of household appliances (dishwasher and washing machine, vacuum cleaner, mixer, etc.);
- use of plumbing;
- hum, whistle in water supply and heating systems of apartments;
- hum, whistle due to the operation of air conditioners;
- operation of electric motors and engines of vehicles, trolleybuses, trams, electric trains, trains, movement and flight of water and air vessels.
Silence laws do not apply to actions aimed at:
- crime prevention;
- liquidation of consequences of accidents;
- natural Disasters;
- performing religious rituals.
The exception to the rule is new buildings. After the official commissioning of the house, in the first year and a half, repair work can be carried out during the day, but not at night.
Alternative for music lovers
If you can’t listen to music in an apartment at full speaker power, then you should do this in a country house or in a private house. However, not everyone can afford it.
The simplest solution may be to buy headphones and listen to music through them, or to install increased sound insulation in the apartment. This is the only way to avoid a conflict situation due to listening to loud music and maintain peace with your neighbors.
Audibility of sounds
Ways to resolve conflict with neighbors
How to resolve conflict situations with neighbors in a civilized manner, how to influence violators so as not to ruin the lives of yourself and those around you:
- Try to negotiate peacefully. Explain to your neighbors the reason for your dissatisfaction. Ask not to violate your rights. Remind them of the need to comply with the norms and rules that are regulated by the Housing Code of the Russian Federation and other regulations.
- Record all violations in photos, videos, and with the involvement of witnesses.
- Contact the management company.
- Call law enforcement officials.
- Write a statement to the district police officer. Attach evidence supporting the violation.
- Going to court.
Try to find a compromise and solve the problem peacefully.
What the law says
The main law limiting the time during which noise can be made is considered to be Federal Law 54 “On Silence”. The law was first passed in 1999. In 2020 and 2021, the latest amendments were made regarding the time when noise can be made and the permissible sound level. The definition of noise, in accordance with the adopted legal act, includes the following:
- screaming, loud talking, crying;
- loud music;
- dog barking, meowing and other noises made by animals;
- sounds produced by household appliances;
- sounds produced by construction equipment and tools.
You can't make noise at night
The law specifies how long it is permissible to listen to loud music. In the regions it is from 7:00 to 21:00.
However, in many of them the time is from 8:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and from 10:00 to 22:00 on weekends. As, for example, in Moscow and the Moscow region.
In Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Tyumen, you can listen to music from 8:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and weekends. In Novosibirsk, the law sets this time from 8:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and from 9:00 to 20:00 on weekends.
Law on silence and noise in apartment buildings 2021
If during the day it is difficult, almost impossible, to deal with loud sounds, since this involves taking measurements of the noise level, then at night irritating sounds are subject to regulations. Loud noises at night are regarded as an encroachment on the peace of citizens.
There is Federal Law No. 52-FZ , also called the “Law on Silence,” which sets the optimal volume for safe noise in decibels:
- during the day - 40 - 55 dB;
- at night - up to 30 dB.
There is no single legislative act defining the hours when silence is established for all regions of Russia. But many of them have introduced restrictions at their level. For example, in some of them, including the Moscow region, there are also daytime hours when it is forbidden to disturb people’s peace.
Legal way to solve the problem
Typically, the relationship between a loud music lover and irritated neighbors looks like this:
- Warning. If the silence breaker is more or less adequate, he will reduce the volume or find a way to comply with the conditions of the hostel. For example, starting to listen to music through headphones.
- Call the police. Residents contact the police when warnings and exhortations do not work. This is rather an attempt to scare, since the police cannot bring administrative liability to the violator of the order. The law on silence does not allow noise from 9 pm to 7 am on weekdays and from 11 pm to 10 am on holidays and weekends, unless otherwise decided by local authorities.
- Rospotrebnadzor. He will have to determine the cause of the high noise level, the presence or absence of violations of GOST. Is the permissible level really exceeded, or is it all about the insufficient level of noise insulation of the building? Rospotrebnadzor must issue an appropriate document confirming or refuting the fact of violation of the law.
- Court. Neighbors can go to court. But to win, they need to collect evidence. In particular, conduct an examination of excess noise levels, assess how destructive the sound is to the condition of the building, and then sue the loud music lover.
When is it okay to make noise?
Winning a trial in such cases is difficult, but possible. In judicial practice, there are even cases where a tenant was evicted from an apartment due to listening to loud music during the day. But such cases are very rare. To do this, several victims must submit complaints and evidence of guilt to the court.
What measures are taken against a silence breaker?
Many first try to negotiate peacefully with those who like parties, loud music or construction. Some understand and behave appropriately. But this happens in quite rare cases. Most often, they can simply slam the door, and also be rude in response.
Here all that remains is to call the police in order to calm down the noisemakers, and also to face administrative responsibility. You can file a complaint against malicious partygoers to the local police officer, who, within the limits of his competence, will first hold explanatory conversations with them, and then, if the situation repeats, take punitive measures.
Article 6.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation determines the imposition of a fine on noisy neighbors in the amount of:
- 500 - 1000 rubles for citizens;
- 1000 - 2000 rubles for officials;
- 1000 - 2000 rubles or suspend activities for up to 90 days for an individual entrepreneur;
- 10,000 - 20,000 rubles or stop activities for up to 90 days at an LLC.
In the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, Article 6.3, violation of silence entails:
- for physical persons: 100 - 500 rubles;
- for officials: – 500 to 1000 rubles;
- for individual entrepreneurs: 500 - 1000 rubles;
- for legal entities persons: 10,000 - 20,000 rubles.
The fine and penalties for violating silence in different regions of Russia may differ.
Thus, according to the Moscow Code of Administrative Offenses in Article 3.13, violation of silence entails:
- 1000 - 2000 rubles (for individuals);
- 4000 - 8000 rubles (for officials);
- 40,000 - 80,000 rubles (for legal entities).
In St. Petersburg, according to Law N 273-70 “On Administrative Offenses”, as amended on May 31, 2010, it is established that persons disturbing the peace of citizens from 2200 to 800 in the form of various noise are subject to warning or punishment in the form of a fine:
- 500 - 5000 rubles (for individuals);
- 25,000 - 50,000 rubles (for officials);
- 50,000 - 200,000 rubles (for legal entities).
As a rule, such a measure of influence is quite effective. Another time, a neighbor will wonder if loud music is worth the expense. Moreover, repeated violations of peace and quiet can double the fine. If such measures are ultimately ignored, the violator of the silence may be arrested for 15 days.
The head of the Kaluga Region police department will tell you what to do if your neighbors violate the “Law on Silence.”
Infographic: 12 effective ways to calm noisy neighbors
Not only an ordinary citizen, but also the owner of a noisy establishment located in a residential area, as well as a repair organization can be held accountable as a troublemaker. The fine in this case, imposed on a legal entity, is much higher and ranges from 40 to 80 thousand rubles, depending on the region.
Law of the Russian Federation
From the position of the state, the rights of people to silence are protected by federal law No. 52. Article 23 establishes that the level of noise and vibration in residential premises must meet certain standards.
These standards are fixed in a separate document. It is SanPiN 2.1.2.2645-10. There is a fourth section saying that night time is the period of the day starting from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am. The same document establishes the permissible volume level:
- for multi-apartment buildings - this is 55 decibels during the day and 55 at night;
- for areas adjacent to apartment buildings - 70 dBa during the day and 60 dBa at night.
The leadership of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation has the opportunity to introduce punishment to ensure peace and quiet for citizens. Authorities can change the hours of day and night and determine what constitutes noise. Exception situations may also be indicated.
Measures applied to offenders
When a person listens to loud music in an apartment at a late time, it can cause trouble. The neighbors of such a person have every right not to suffer from this, but to call the local police officer or the police . Law enforcement officers must respond. Upon arrival, they will help you draw up a statement, as well as attract witnesses to confirm the fact of the offense. They are required to record the noise level in decibels and draw up a protocol.
It should be noted that if such an offense is not recorded, no penalties will be imposed on the culprit. For violation of the law “On Silence” the following punishment is provided:
- If this is the first violation, then you face a fine of 500 rubles. up to 1000 rub.,
- For the second violation a fine of RUB 3,000 is imposed. up to 6000 rub.,
- the third violation entails administrative arrest for 15 days.
In legal practice, a case was recorded when a too noisy neighbor, who systematically violated the order, was evicted from his living space . Therefore, to the question of how long you can listen to loud music, you can answer - not until how long. Whether or not to turn down the sound should be decided by the person himself based on his moral principles.
What to do if your neighbors listen to music loudly at night
You want to sleep and you are tired, but the annoying neighbors are again listening to loud music and shouting loudly? In this case, first you should establish communication with your neighbors and agree that they at least lower the volume of the music. If you were refused or the door was not opened to you at all, then you have the right to call the police or call the local police officer. They will be obliged to come and stop the crime.
If you want to listen to a loud stereo system late at night, you need to think about the people around you. Neighbors, citing the Quiet Law, can take tough measures by calling the police. Therefore, you need to maintain order and not interfere with your neighbors’ lives. In any case, if you behave humanly, you can find a compromise.
Where to file a complaint
Despite all the provisions and prohibitions of the law, dealing with noisy neighbors can sometimes be difficult. What should victims do if the problem cannot be resolved peacefully?
To calm down the violent residents, you should call the police department. A local police officer must come to the scene and document the violation of order in the form of a protocol. This protocol can subsequently be used to impose administrative sanctions on troublemakers.
In cases where police actions are not enough to suppress, you should go to court to protect your rights. The outcome of the claim in this case depends on the evidence that the injured party can provide. So, you can record the facts using an audio recording or film the actions of hooligans on a car DVR. The chances will increase significantly if a class action lawsuit is filed in court. Or simply enlist the testimony of neighbors.
Serious difficulties are experienced by those who live near shopping and entertainment centers or catering establishments that are open 24 hours a day. Noise can also come from large plants and factories. It is better to contact Rospotrebnadzor with statements about such inconveniences of this kind. Specialists will arrive at the stated address, measure the noise level, and if a violation is established, the legal entity will be fined.
Exception : law enforcement officials will not be able to help those citizens who live near railways. Complaints regarding noise of this kind cannot be satisfied.
