Reporting a Noise Problem

Glasgow City Council no longer operates an Out of Hours Domestic Service. The following information may be of use if you are experiencing noise issues from a domestic premises:-

• If your property, or the source property, are managed by a housing association, you should contact the relevant Housing Officer for assistance. Housing associations can investigate issues if their tenants are affected within their housing stock, even if the source is not their tenant. A directory of landlords within Glasgow City can be found here.
• For ongoing excessive noise particularly where there is disorderly behaviour or excessive noise from vehicles you can contact Police Scotland on 101 (999 in an emergency).
• Noise relating to children playing, footfall, doors closing and people talking is unlikely to support any formal action. In such cases the Mediation Service may be able to assist. Further information on mediation can be found here.
• Excessive noise from a private let property can be reported to the relevant landlord, their contact details can be found on the Landlord Registration website.
• Excessive noise from a licensed short term let e.g. Airbnb see our Short Term Lets webpage.
• Information on reporting other antisocial behaviour can be found here.

What can the council do about noise from commercial premises?

On receipt of a noise complaint, where possible, officers will discuss the situation with the complainant and seek to rectify justified complaints timeously. Officers may be able to provide assistance and a neutral perspective on the situation. If informal contact is unsuccessful officers have enforcement powers in terms of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to abate noise disturbance where appropriate.

Officers have the power to enter premises to carry out investigations or to arrange works to rectify a statutory nuisance. Where nuisance conditions are witnessed by officers they shall issue a statutory notice to require the removal of the nuisance within a specified timescale.

Failure to comply with a notice may result in work being carried out in default; serving a £150 (domestic)/ £400 (commercial) fixed penalty notice; or referring the matter to the Procurator Fiscal.

Please note any disturbance will have to be monitored from your property before any formal action can be considered.

How do I report noise from commercial premises?

Officers are on duty 7 days a week from 5pm to 3am and can be contacted by phoning 0141 287 1060 or by using our online form. 

Licensed premises

Licensed premises have a responsibility to be considerate towards neighbouring properties and these suggestions can help in reducing noise disturbance:

• Consult with a relevant acoustic expert should you wish to introduce or significantly modify existing amplified voices or music.
• Third parties (DJ's, Karaoke companies, bands) require to be adequately managed by the License Holder to prevent raised noise levels in their premises adversely affecting others. Care should be exercised where third parties propose to use further amplification outwith your direct control. This practice should routinely be avoided.
• Provide suitable control on noise escape through building weak spots. For instance, noise escape through leaving doors and windows open for ventilation and through non-acoustically treated ventilation and ducts to the exterior.
• Ensure all external fans and ventilation extraction serving your premises are turned off at the earliest opportunity. Servicing and/or acoustic treatment may also be required to reduce disturbance.

On closing premises after trading, reduce noise from activities to a minimum including lower voices and prevent the use of amplified background music, i.e. jukebox. Encourage patrons to leave premises quietly to minimise disturbance to local residents - signs to this effect may help

• Discourage taxis from using their horns to attract the attention of your customers and staff at all times. Ask the drivers to switch off their engines while waiting for customers - signs to this effect may help.
• Allow access to waste uplift by contractors at a time and place that causes the least disturbance. Due to the excessive noise created outwith your premises when filling and emptying a bin containing glass, please ensure that extra consideration is exercised on filling methods and waste disposal company uplift times.
• Ensure that there are no raised voices from door persons carrying out their routine tasks.
• Ensure members of your staff do not dispose of glass outwith the premises at times which will cause disturbance to local residents.

With the legislation relating to smoking in public places in Scotland, licensed premises should ensure that noise from smoking areas outwith the premises but used by their patrons do not cause undue disturbance to those nearby. Premises need to also consider litter and thoroughfare issues. Advice on smoking shelters is available on the Scottish Government website or contact us by email.

Related Content

Related Links

• Environmental Protection Act 1990 (opens new window)