UK noise complaints › Birmingham

How to make a noise complaint in Birmingham

Report noise to Birmingham City Council with its online noise nuisance form, after speaking to your neighbour. The council will contact you, ask you to keep a diary, warn your neighbour and gather evidence for legal action if the noise goes on. It publishes no out-of-hours noise line. Call West Midlands Police on 999 if anyone is in danger.

Last updated: November 8, 2026

How to report noise to Birmingham City Council

Reporting routes, from the council's own pages
Route	Details
Online form	The "Noise Nuisance Complaint" form, for amplified noise, animals, buskers, commercial premises, construction and industry, alarms and mechanical noise such as DIY or washing machines
Shouting and other domestic noise	"likely to be treated as antisocial behaviour"; council tenants can use the council's antisocial behaviour form
Antisocial behaviour	West Midlands Police online or on 101
Anyone in danger	999
Roadworks by the council or Kier	A highways enquiry instead

Sources: report a noise nuisance, the online form and the council's antisocial behaviour pages. "If noise nuisance is still a problem after speaking with your neighbour, fill out the online form." The council investigates only "where residents within the city of Birmingham are affected, not business addresses", and warns that "your identity may be revealed to your neighbour during legal proceedings."

What happens after you report

In the council's words, it will "contact you to discuss the problem", "ask you to keep a diary or other record so we can see when, how long, how often the noise occurs and how it affects your life at home", "contact your neighbour to warn them that a complaint has been made", and "try to gather evidence (such as ear-witness accounts and recordings) to pursue legal action if the neighbour continues to cause noise problems". Where needed it takes court action for breach of a Noise Abatement Notice, with "possible seizure of sound equipment if the problem continues". In England the court sets the fine, with no upper limit since 2015.

What Birmingham will not deal with

"Noise or behaviour that is part of everyday life is not considered antisocial behaviour" (antisocial behaviour). On fireworks: "Noise nuisance laws don't normally apply to fireworks as they're used only occasionally throughout the year during significant cultural or religious ceremonies", because "to classify as a nuisance, a disturbing noise has to be heard regularly or for long periods of time." For smaller works on homes nearby, "There will need to be more give and take".

Building work hours in Birmingham

The council's approved hours for construction works are "Monday to Friday 8:00am to 6:00pm", "Saturday 8:00am to 1:00pm" and "Sunday and Public Holidays No works", for work audible at the site boundary. Its resident page recommends the same limits for noisy activities.

Renting, and the city centre

If nobody involved is a council tenant, the council says to contact your landlord. In 25 of Birmingham's 69 wards private landlords need a selective licence (since 5 June 2023), whose conditions cover "reducing anti-social behaviour". In the city centre a noise Public Spaces Protection Order is in force until 14 August 2028, enforced with evening patrols alongside West Midlands Police.

The law behind a noise complaint in Birmingham

Noise from homes is a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which the council must investigate at any hour; there is no daytime decibel limit. From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. the Noise Act 1996 also lets it act on noise above 34 dBA measured inside your home. 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

Birmingham City Council: report a noise nuisance (last updated 4 December 2024), the noise nuisance complaint form, antisocial behaviour and reporting antisocial behaviour, construction and demolition advice to building contractors (21 November 2024), public spaces protection orders (13 February 2026) and selective licensing (5 November 2026), with the cabinet report of 22 July 2025 on the city centre noise order. All read 2026-11-08. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice; the legislation and Birmingham City Council's decisions control.

How do I report noisy neighbours to Birmingham City Council?

Speak to your neighbour first, then fill in the council's online noise nuisance form. The council will contact you, ask you to keep a diary and warn your neighbour. Shouting and similar domestic noise is likely to be treated as antisocial behaviour.

Does Birmingham have an out-of-hours noise service?

The council publishes none: its noise pages offer only the online form. If there is crime or danger, call West Midlands Police on 999, or 101 for antisocial behaviour.

What time can builders work in Birmingham?

The council's approved hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, with no works on Sundays or public holidays.

UK noise guides and other councils

← How to report noisy neighbours in the UK