Surviving the Reno: A Guide to Handling Noise from Your Neighbor's Home Renovation

Professional Construction vs. DIY Projects

It's important to distinguish between two types of renovation noise. Large-scale projects done by professional contractors are typically subject to the same rules as commercial construction sites. This means they are almost always restricted to specific daytime hours (e.g., 7 AM to 7 PM on weekdays) and may require permits that dictate noise control measures.

DIY projects, on the other hand, can be a bit of a gray area. While your neighbor hammering a nail at 2 PM is perfectly reasonable, using a power saw late into the evening is not. These activities generally fall under the standard residential noise ordinance rules and are subject to your city's quiet hours.

Step 1: The Neighborly Heads-Up (or Lack Thereof)

A considerate neighbor will often give you a heads-up before starting a major project. They might mention the timeline and apologize in advance for any disruption. This simple act of communication can make the noise much more tolerable because you know it's temporary.

If they haven't spoken to you, and the noise is becoming an issue, a polite conversation is your best first step. They might not realize how much the sound is carrying into your home.

"Hey, I see you're working on a big project—it's looking great! I just wanted to ask if you could try to wrap up the loudest work, like the sawing, before 8 PM? It gets pretty loud in our living room in the evenings."

Step 2: Know the Permitted Hours

If the friendly approach doesn't work, your next step is to check the law. Use our tool to find your local ordinance and look for two key sections:

• Construction Hours: This will tell you the legally permitted times for loud construction and demolition work.
• Quiet Hours: This applies to general residential noise and would cover a neighbor's DIY project after hours.

Any work involving power tools or hammering that happens outside of these designated times is almost certainly a violation.

Step 3: Who to Call When There's a Violation

If you're dealing with consistent violations of the permitted hours, you have a few options for escalation:

• For professional construction sites: Your best bet is to call your city's Code Enforcement or Department of Buildings. They are responsible for enforcing permit conditions, which include work hours.
• For DIY projects after hours: This falls under a standard noise complaint. After documenting the issue, call the non-emergency police line to report a quiet hours violation.

The Takeaway

Home renovations are a temporary but significant source of neighborhood noise. By understanding the specific rules for construction, communicating politely with your neighbor, and knowing who to contact for violations, you can better manage the disruption and ensure the project doesn't completely shatter your peace at home.