Who's Right?My neighbour makes noise after 10 pm: what does the law say?
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In short
In France, noise that disturbs your neighbours between 10 pm and 7 am can be penalised as night-time disturbance, even if it's short or happens only once. But careful: unreasonable noise before 10 pm can be penalised too.
Both sides
I'm a care assistant and I get up at 5:30, Saturdays included. Since September, my upstairs neighbour often has friends over at weekends, and I can hear the music and laughter until past midnight. I ended up leaving a note in the hallway. I'll admit it was a bit sharp. For me it's simple: after 10 pm, you turn it down. That's the law.
I don't party every night. It's twice a month at most, always at weekends. I turn the music down around 11 pm, and after that we just talk. I felt it was unfair to find an anonymous note in the hallway for the whole building to see, when she could have just knocked on my door. If I'd known she worked early on Saturdays, I'd have been more careful.
The verdict
On the substance, Clémence is right. Between 10 pm and 7 am, noise that keeps neighbours awake can be penalised, even if it's brief and doesn't happen often. Saying "it's the weekend" or "it's only twice a month" isn't enough: if the music can still be heard in her flat at 11 pm, the problem is real.
The way Clémence handled it didn't help, though. The recommended first step is to talk to your neighbour. A sharp, anonymous note pinned up in the hallway puts people on the defensive instead of fixing anything. Karim also has a point: he didn't know her hours, and he seems willing to make an effort.
The rule is on Clémence's side, hence 65%. But the way the conflict started explains Karim's 35%.
The compromise
Tomorrow, Clémence knocks on Karim's door to explain her schedule, without blaming him, and they swap numbers so they can text each other instead of leaving notes. Karim gives her a heads-up the day before each get-together, turns the music off at 10 pm and keeps the rest of the evening quiet.
What the rules say
In France, there are no set national hours when noise is always allowed or always banned. The one exception is night-time disturbance (tapage nocturne), between 10 pm and 7 am. At night, an offence is possible even if the noise isn't repeated, loud or long-lasting. However, the person making it must know they're disturbing others and do nothing about it. Night-time noise that disturbs other people's peace is punishable by a fine of up to €450. During the day, noise can also be penalised if it's unreasonable, meaning too loud, too long or too frequent. Local rules can differ: your town hall may have issued an order on certain noises, and building co-ownership rules can limit or ban some of them. The recommended steps, in order: talk to your neighbour, then send a simple letter, then call the police or gendarmerie. After that, you can go to a court conciliator (free) and, as a last resort, take the matter to a judge, who can award damages.
Sources:
- Troubles de voisinage : bruits créés par des comportements anormaux (service-public.gouv.fr)
- Troubles de voisinage : bruits créés par des comportements anormaux (justice.fr)
General information, not legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you make as much noise as you like before 10 pm?
No. In France, noise can be penalised day or night if it goes beyond the normal nuisances of living near others, because it's too loud, too long or too frequent.
What does a neighbour risk for night-time noise?
In France, night-time noise that disturbs other people's peace is punishable by a fine of up to €450.
Can I call the police if my neighbour is noisy at night?
Yes, the police or gendarmerie can come and confirm the noise at night. Be careful, though: falsely reporting someone can lead to prosecution for malicious accusation.
What evidence should I keep against a noisy neighbour?
You can keep letters you've exchanged, a report from a court officer (commissaire de justice), witness statements, a police report receipt, and a medical certificate if your health has suffered. Evidence must be gathered fairly: you can't film your neighbour inside their home without them knowing.
What if the noise keeps going anyway?
You can turn to a court conciliator, which is free. If that fails, a judge can order the noisy neighbour to pay you damages.
Guide Disputes between neighbors: the guide
Written with the help of AI · This is not legal advice. How Who's Right decides
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