5 Things Renters Should Know About Noise Complaints

Moving into a new apartment means learning the unwritten rules of shared walls. But when it comes to noise complaints, the written rules matter more than you think. Here are five things every renter should understand before picking up the phone.

1. Your city's noise ordinance trumps your lease

Most leases include a "quiet enjoyment" clause, but that is a contract term between you and your landlord — not a noise standard. Your city's noise ordinance is the law, and it defines what counts as excessive noise, when quiet hours apply, and what fines your neighbor could face. In cities like Denver, quiet hours start as early as 7 PM. In Nashville, the cutoff is 10 PM. Knowing the actual hours for your city saves you from filing complaints that go nowhere.

2. Calling the cops is not always the first step

In many cities, noise enforcement is handled by a separate department — not the police. Seattle routes complaints through the Department of Construction and Inspections. Chicago leans on aldermen's offices for neighborhood disputes. Phoenix uses its non-emergency police line. Calling 911 for a noise complaint is usually the wrong move unless there is a safety concern.

3. Document everything

Timestamps, recordings, and a written log strengthen any complaint. If you end up escalating to your landlord or to city code enforcement, vague descriptions of "it's always loud" carry less weight than a log showing dates, times, and what you heard. Some cities, like Portland, now let you upload audio recordings through online complaint portals.

4. Your landlord has obligations too

If your neighbor's noise violates the lease or local code, your landlord has a legal duty to address it. This falls under the implied warranty of habitability in most states. Document your complaints to the landlord in writing — email works fine. If they ignore repeated complaints, you may have grounds to break your lease or withhold rent, depending on your state's tenant protection laws.

5. Retaliation is illegal

If you file a noise complaint and your landlord raises your rent or tries to evict you, that is likely retaliation, which is illegal in most states. Keep records of every interaction. If you suspect retaliation, contact your local tenant's rights organization or legal aid society.