Building work and DIY noise guidance

Regulations for building and DIY noise

Building work or DIY activities can create noise or vibration that can affect neighbours and result in complaints to Brighton & Hove City Council.

There's no law stating the times that DIY or other building works can take place or any laws that specify maximum noise levels.

Planning conditions are sometimes attached to planning permissions which restrict work to certain times only. These permissions are usually only for larger developments (10 dwellings or more or development of floorspace of 1,000 sq m or more).

You can find information about individual site planning permissions by searching our Planning Register.

Recommendations 

We appreciate that people often carry out building or DIY work. However, this work must be done at reasonable times and should not cause nuisance to neighbours.

We strongly recommend that noisy building and DIY work be restricted to the following times unless you have agreed to other times with your neighbours:

• 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday
• 9am to 1pm Saturdays 
• no work on Sundays and Bank/Public Holidays:

It is a good idea to inform your neighbours of the work you're carrying out, and how long you expect it to take. Where possible, inform them in advance of potentially noisy work. Complaints may be avoided if people are aware of your timetable.

Remember, whilst occasional DIY or building work is not unreasonable, frequent, or prolonged loud work that causes disturbance can be considered unreasonable and may constitute a statutory nuisance. 

More advice on construction times.