UK noise complaints › Belfast

How to make a noise complaint in Belfast

Call Belfast City Council's night-time noise service on 028 9037 3006, seven nights a week from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., while the noise is happening; officers can warn the person on the spot or issue a fixed penalty. In office hours call 028 9027 0428 or report online. Street antisocial behaviour and fireworks go to the PSNI on 101.

Last updated: November 8, 2026

How to report noise to Belfast City Council

Reporting routes, from the council's own pages
Route	Details
Night-time noise service	028 9037 3006, Monday to Sunday, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.; you can leave your details on its voicemail
Office hours	028 9027 0428, Monday to Thursday 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday to 4.30 p.m.
Online or email	The online noise form, or Noise@belfastcity.gov.uk; neither is answered at night or at weekends
Barking dogs	The dog warden service, 028 9027 0431
Street antisocial behaviour, household living noise, fireworks	The PSNI on 101
Housing Executive tenants	The Housing Executive, which nidirect says investigates "noisy or disruptive tenants"

Sources: report a noise problem, the online form, other types of noise and the council's student advice; Queen's University Belfast gives the same night hours and number; nidirect for the Housing Executive. "Our online form and email account aren't monitored or responded to during night time hours or at weekends. During these times you can report a noise problem by calling 028 9037 3006."

What the night-time officers can do

The night service "enables our noise control officers to take instant action when excessive noise occurs. Depending on the level of noise they witness, our officers can issue a verbal warning, a warning notice or a fixed penalty notice" (neighbours and loud music). A warning notice asks the person to reduce the noise within ten minutes; if they don't, the council says it can issue a fixed penalty notice of £110 or take them to court, and seize equipment "such as music players, mixing decks, amplifiers and speakers". For licensed premises it gives a £500 fixed penalty.

What happens with a noise problem that keeps on

Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 the council can deal with noise that is a nuisance at any time. It may ask you to keep a diary of the dates and times of each disturbance, or let officers into your home to monitor it, and "If we agree that a nuisance exists or is likely to occur, we can serve the person responsible with a Noise Abatement Notice". Officers weigh "loudness", "when it occurs", "how often and for how long", the "make-up of the local area", the "effect on you" and the "likely effect on the average person". nidirect adds that an individual can take their own statutory nuisance case to court.

What Belfast will not deal with

"We have no legal power to deal with noise complaints about anti-social behaviour noise in the street, domestic living noises (for example, banging doors, footfall or household appliances) or fireworks. These issues should be reported to the PSNI using their non-emergency contact number, 101." Nor can it act on "General traffic noise from vehicles travelling on roads" or aircraft, "This includes noise from flights in and out of George Best Belfast City Airport" (other types of noise).

Building work and DIY hours in Belfast

Belfast sets no fixed building hours. Its advice note gives noise targets by time of day instead, with work "Not audible" from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and on Sundays, and says routine noisy work "will not normally be permitted between 22.00 hrs and 07.00 hrs". For DIY at home the council suggests "weekdays between 7am and 7pm", "Saturday between 8am and 1pm", and to "avoid carrying out noisy DIY on Sundays."

The law behind a noise complaint in Belfast

Statutory nuisance is in Part 7 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, and the Noise Act 1996's night procedure applies from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., when councils can serve warning notices and fixed penalties and seize equipment. The UK guide to reporting noisy neighbours covers the steps, notices and fines, and UK noise laws the hours; for particular noise see barking dogs, loud music and builders' hours. A reading from the free online decibel meter can sit beside each entry in your diary; the council measures with its own equipment.

Sources

Belfast City Council: noise control, report a noise problem, neighbours and loud music, other types of noise, student advice, the online form and the advice note for construction and demolition sites; Queen's University Belfast; nidirect's noise nuisance and antisocial behaviour pages. All read 2026-11-08. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice; the legislation and Belfast City Council's decisions control.

Who do I call about noise at night in Belfast?

Belfast City Council's night-time noise service on 028 9037 3006, seven nights a week from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., while the noise is happening. Street antisocial behaviour and fireworks go to the PSNI on 101.

What is the fine for noise at night in Belfast?

If someone ignores a warning notice the council says it can issue a fixed penalty notice of £110, or £500 for licensed premises, or take them to court, and seize equipment such as speakers.

Who deals with a barking dog in Belfast?

The council's dog warden service on 028 9027 0431, after you have spoken to the owner. If the barking is a nuisance the council can serve a Noise Abatement Notice.

UK noise guides and other councils

← How to report noisy neighbours in the UK