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How to make a noise complaint in Edinburgh

In Edinburgh, call Police Scotland on 101 while neighbour noise is happening, at any time of day; the council's own pages say so. For a problem that keeps on, contact the council's Household Support team, which can offer mediation. Noise from businesses, building sites and alarms goes to Environmental Protection on 0131 200 2000.

Last updated: November 8, 2026

How to report noise in Edinburgh

Reporting routes, from the council's own pages
Noise	Who to contact
Neighbour noise happening now	Police Scotland on 101, "any time of the day, 7 days a week"; 999 if anyone is in danger
A neighbour problem that keeps on	Household Support at your local council office (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday, to 3.50 p.m. Friday), or householdsupport@edinburgh.gov.uk
Businesses, building sites, alarms	Environmental Protection, 0131 200 2000 or asknoise@edinburgh.gov.uk
A pub or club in the evening or at weekends	Licensing Standards Officers, 0131 200 2000
Housing association tenants	Your Housing Officer
A privately rented home next door	Speak to the landlord, who is "responsible for dealing with issues caused by their tenant"

Sources: noise from neighbouring homes, antisocial behaviour, contact us and commercial and construction noise. The council's pages repeat the police advice: "if you are being disturbed in your home by noisy neighbours you should contact the police on 101 when the noise is happening." Licensing Standards Officers cover licensed premises from 12.15 p.m. to midnight Monday to Thursday, 5.15 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 3.45 p.m. to 2.30 a.m. on Sunday.

What the council can do

"Household Support deals with noise from houses, including things like loud music, DIY and musical instruments", and "One of the ways in which Household Support could help is to offer mediation." For council tenants it can use the tenancy agreement and the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, from "issuing Warnings and Notices to applying to the Court for an Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO) or taking court action for eviction" (antisocial behaviour).

For statutory nuisance from businesses and sites, the Environmental Protection operating plan (February 2026) says you may be asked to record when the noise happens, officers will often need access to your home, and "If Authorised Officers have made three attempts to witness the contravention within a 12 week period, but no evidence has been found, the case will generally be closed." Anonymous complaints "will not be investigated unless there is an obvious, imminent and serious risk to public health or safety."

What Edinburgh will not deal with

"We can't take formal action for noise coming from children playing, loud footsteps or where sound proofing is a factor. For these type of issues Mediation can be of help." The council cannot act on general traffic noise; noisy or adapted exhausts and car horns go to Police Scotland on 101; railway noise goes to the Network Rail helpline, 03457 11 41 41, and Edinburgh Airport flights to the airport, 0800 731 3397 (railway, traffic and aircraft).

Building work hours in Edinburgh

"As a general rule noisy work from construction sites should usually only disturb you Monday to Saturday 7am to 7pm" (construction noise). The council's Code of Conduct for Responsible Construction (July 2025) says the same, "Noisy work should not take place outside the hours of 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday", and asks builders to give neighbours 7 days' notice of work outside those hours. DIY in your own home "would not be subject to the same rules", according to the operating plan.

The law behind a noise complaint in Edinburgh

Statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 applies in Scotland too. The Noise Act 1996 does not: Scotland has no national night hours, and the night-noise powers of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 apply only where a council has adopted them, for the periods it chooses. 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

The City of Edinburgh Council: noise from neighbouring residential properties, antisocial behaviour, contact us, commercial and construction noise and construction hours, railway, traffic and aircraft noise, the Code of Conduct for Responsible Construction (29 July 2025) and the operating plan for Environmental Protection (February 2026). All read 2026-11-08. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice; the legislation and the City of Edinburgh Council's decisions control.

Who do I call about noisy neighbours at night in Edinburgh?

Police Scotland on 101, while the noise is happening; the council's pages send night noise from homes to the police. Call 999 if anyone is in danger. For a problem that keeps on, contact the council's Household Support team in office hours.

What time can builders work in Edinburgh?

The council's general rule is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Builders are asked to give neighbours 7 days' notice of work outside those hours.

Can the council stop noise from footsteps in Edinburgh?

No. The council says it cannot take formal action for children playing, loud footsteps or where sound proofing is a factor, and suggests mediation instead.

UK noise guides and other councils

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