Latest news with #noisecomplaint
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
What Topeka ordinances say about noisy neighbors, barking dogs and loud music
When barking dogs or blaring music disturb their peace, Topekans can remedy that by reporting it. The city can then address the problem and cite the noisemaker in connection with violating any of various ordinances listed in Article II of Section 9.45 of city code. To submit a noise complaint, call the Topeka Police Department at 785-368-9551, according to the city's website. Residents being kept awake by barking dogs might be glad to know that city code 9.45.330 bans "the keeping or harboring of any animal which by causing frequent or long continued noise shall disturb the comfort or repose of any persons in the vicinity." City animal control officers don't respond to barking dog calls, the city's website says. "Topeka Police Officers respond to these complaints under the noise violation ordinance," it says. City code 9.45.190 bans the use or operation of any device that produces or amplifies sound in a manner that disturbs the peace, quiet and comfort of others between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. For a violation to occur, the sound must be "audible at a distance of 50 feet from the premises, building structure or vehicle in which the device is located,' the ordinance says. Construction-wise, the city bans between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. 'the erection (including excavation), demolition, exterior alteration or exterior repair of any building or exterior construction project.' It prohibits the operation between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. 'of any pile driver, steam shovel, pneumatic hammer, derrick, steam or electric hoist or other appliance, the use of which is attended by loud or unusual noise.' The city's rules call for its officials, in determining whether a noise ordinance has been violated, to take into account: The volume of the noise. The intensity of the noise. Whether the nature of the noise is usual or unusual. Whether the origin of the noise is natural or unnatural. The volume and intensity of the background noise, if any. The proximity of the noise to residences. The nature and zoning of the area within which the noise emanates. The density of the inhabitation of the area within which the noise emanates. The time of day or night the noise occurs. The duration of the noise. Whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent or constant. And whether the noise is produced by a commercial or noncommercial activity. Shawnee County has considerably less-restrictive rules governing its unincorporated areas than the city does regarding noise. The county's rules ban noise from the discharge, explosion or use of any fireworks is except from 8 a.m. to midnight on June 27 to July 4. They also prohibit "the keeping or harboring of any canine which by causing frequent or long continued noise shall disturb the comfort or repose of any persons in the vicinity." Commissioners put the county's rules in place about 20 years ago, removing numerous requirements from the initial version of the proposal involved after residents said one reason they moved to rural areas was so they could have the freedom to make noise. Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@ or 785-213-5934. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka ordinances spell out remedies for barking dogs and loud music
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Prisoner of my own home': Ionia woman claims suffering due to neighbor's frequent firing of large caliber guns
IONIA, Mich. (WLNS) — A woman in Ionia County claims she's been a prisoner in her own home for years because of her next-door neighbor's backyard shooting. Lois Laroe has lived in her Ionia home for decades, and while she says she's reached out to Ionia Township officials multiple times, she also says nobody will do anything about it. Whether it's during the day or at night, Laroe says she hasn't had a moment of peace since her next-door neighbor, Casey Wagner, moved in 3 years ago. Laroe says her neighbor uses high-caliber guns and uses tannorite as well, which she says causes loud explosions. 'I haven't been out in my yard to do anything,' said Laroe. 'I mean, I'm a prisoner of my own home.' Laroe says the explosions are not only destroying her quality of life, but also damaging her property. 'I've got a hole in the windshield of my car from March 18,' said Laroe. She also claims she's found evidence of retaliation, but hasn't gotten any help from authorities. 'We found a balloon that said 'Snitch' on it,' said Laroe. 'I've been down to the sheriff's office several times. I have been everywhere asking for help.' Greg Sipka, Laroe's neighbor, says he also frequently hears gunshots and explosions near his home, and that it got so bad, he had to file a police report. 'You'd hear them at 10:00 at night. You'd hear them at 6 a.m. You'd hear them at 2:30 at night,' said Sipka. 'It took two days to get a sheriff to come to my home to take the report, and then after seven weeks, approximately,' said Sipka. 'Checked with the sheriff's office, and the case had been closed.' Sipka says back in September, township and state officials held a meeting to try to resolve the issue. 'At the time, Township Supervisor Ionia County [sic] Kurt Scheurer read it with Representative Gina Johnson that this point forward, we're going to be issuing citations,' said Sipka. 'You can't be doing these explosions.' According to 'No person shall disturb the public peace and quiet by loud or boisterous conduct.' So, 6 News reached out ot the Ionia County Sheriff's Department, and received a statement from Sheriff Charlie Noll: 'We have an open investigation on this situation. I will not make any comments on this at this time.' Sipka claims Wagner stopped for a few months between September 2024 and January 2025, following a meeting with Representative Gina Johnson and a local pastor. However, Sipka and Laroe claim that Wagner still continues the explosions. Laroe claims Wagner has not been cited, and urges township leaders to do more to protect community members. 6 News reached out to Ionia Township officials by phone and email multiple times throughout the week. We also went in person to township offices, but were told no one was available, and there were no set business hours. We also reached out to Wagner by phone, by text, and attempted to reach out in person. We also attempted to reach out to his father, Richard Wagner, by phone. We did not receive a response from him. 6 News will keep you updated as soon as we receive an update from Wagner, the sheriff's office, or township officials. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Downtown Calgary residents voice concerns over Cowboys Music Festival tent noise
It was a loud few nights for Calgarian Brian Owens, who lives right across from the recently relocated Cowboys Music Festival. In years past, the festival tent sat near the Cowboys Casino on 12 Avenue S.E., but this year it moved to the newly-renamed Cowboys Park, formerly Shaw Millennium Park, at 1220 Ninth Ave. S.W. 'I don't mind festivals being here, what I mind is it being that loud all the way till 2 a.m.,' he said. 'Especially on weeknights when most of us have to work the next day.' Owens filed a noise complaint with 311 at 1:45 a.m. on Friday while live music was still playing. 'A concert at the Saddledome doesn't go until 2 a.m. I see no reason that [a concert] that takes place in a park across the street from a building that houses nearly 1,000 people has to go that late,' he said. Owens says city officials told him that his complaint will be grouped in with many others already filed. He told CTV News he found the noise level to be the loudest on Saturday, keeping him awake until 2 a.m. 'Keep in mind, this is with ear buds in trying to play some relaxing music to override what I'm hearing,' Owens said. Owens says the music wasn't nearly as loud on Sunday. His live-in partner Michael Dettner says though they knew the festival would be noisy, but didn't have an understanding of just how bad it would be until things kicked off last Thursday. 'We were up most of the night,' Dettner said. 'This is this constant 'thud, thud, thud, thud, boom, boom,' and then the crowd is huge.' The festival tent has been granted a noise exemption, allowing it play music at 82 decibels until midnight. After midnight, the tent can still play music, but it must be turned down. Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong says his office has received approximately 10 complains regarding noise and garbage issues stemming from the Cowboys Music Festival. According to Wong, the tent is abiding by the rules. 'I've been there every day,' he said. 'You'll hear the noise intensity certainly loud in the centre, but when you walk away from the area, the noise levels are 70 to 80 decibels, which is within city limits.' Wong says he wants residents to know he empathizes with their concerns. 'There are people who are much more sensitive, or they're on shift work, or seniors that obviously want to get to bed sooner,' he said. 'We need to recognize that we are during the 10 days of Stampede, it's a festival, these are some things that we need to regulate to make sure they stay within the bylaws.' CTV News has reached out to the Cowboys Music Festival for a comment regarding the noise complaints and will update this article if and when one is received. The 2025 festival runs from July 3 to 13.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Man at war with 1,000 locals after winning £75-a-week council compensation over noise as loud as a LAWNMOWER caused by kids playing basketball
A homeowner has been branded a 'Victor Meldrew' killjoy after he complained about noise 'as loud as a lawnmower' coming from children playing on a basketball court. The man, 53, is being paid £75-a-week compensation because an Ombudsman ruled he was wrongly treated by his local council. But residents living close to historic Hailey Park in Cardiff say it is a 'staggering' waste of public money, with more than 1,000 people signing a petition to keep the basketball court where it is. The Friends of Hailey Park organisation say the court has been there for more than 30 years. When a small housing estate was built 50 yards away, developers Bellway Homes used the area as a storage compound for their diggers and machinery. It was turned back into a basketball court when the houses were finished and that's when the noise problems started. The family whose home overlooks the multi-use games area say they have been driven crazy by bouncing balls for the last 10 years. The father-of-one called in noise experts who recorded the sound of at 70 decibels, slightly above the level of a car door being shut. He said: 'Can you imagine a basketball being bounced 50 times a minute outside your house? That's what we have to put up with. 'This house is my dream home, I bought it to be near the park and there was never a basketball court there. More than 1,000 people have signed a petition for the court to remain where it is 'When they are playing out there we can't have the windows open, we can't have conversations, it's so loud.' Professional readings taken from his home showed a ball hitting the wire mesh in the play area reached 90 decibels - as noisy as a powered lawnmower. The hoops were removed from the court six years ago but that hasn't stopped the noise from youngsters bouncing basketballs and using it for football kickabouts. When his complaints to Cardiff Council fell on deaf ears the homeowner turned to the Public Services Ombudsman saying it was having a 'substantial impact' on his life. The Ombudsman ruled Cardiff Council had not taken appropriate action and was told to offer him £300 compensation and then £75-a-week until the situation was resolved. The homeowner, a local businessman who has so far been paid £1,200, says he doesn't want the money, he just wants the court to be moved to a better location in the 60-acre park. His life has become more unbearable since the compensation deal was made public, as he claims people are using the court at 2am 'out of spite'. He's also been accused of nibmyism, suffered online abuse and been publicly shunned by locals who mistakenly believe he also wants to get rid of the children's playground next to the basketball court. More than 1,000 locals have now signed a petition for the court to be kept in the same spot. Clearly distressed he told Mail Online: 'That is utter nonsense. Children laughing and playing is the most wonderful sound in the world. 'It's the incessant noise from the basketball court that nobody should have to put up with. I feel as if I'm being 100 per cent victimised for just wanting a quiet life. 'I'm a nice guy, I'm not a complainer. I'm the innocent party in all this. 'There are safeguarding issues now, people are that irate they're threatening online to damage my property. What next? Are they going to attack my wife? It's intimidating and we've done nothing wrong.' Feelings are running high among people who have used the park since they were children. One grandmother, who didn't want to be named, said: 'This fella is a bit of a Victor Meldrew, none of the other people living there have complained about the noise. 'If he wins this one then the next thing is he'll be complaining about the noise from the children's playground.' Others are concerned that the complainant is getting more than £10-a day after he chose to buy a house next to a play area. Mum-of-one Laura Kalirai, said: 'I find it a bit worrying, how far can this go? Does this mean we're going to start having to pay for everybody to be compensated for things they don't like about where they live.' (THIS FROM THE BBC WALES REPORT) Paul Rock, 58, a Friends of Hailey Park committee member and the group's treasurer, said: 'I find it staggering that public money is being spent in this way. I don't know if that's normal. 'I'm sure Cardiff Council can ill afford to hand over £300-a-month to a private individual.' 'The basketball court has been there for many years, it's a useful outdoor space for children to play and where parents teach their kids to ride a bike. 'When Cardiff Council put sound recording equipment in the man's garden they said it was just marginally above the threshold at times.' Mr Rock said there had been no face-to-face meeting with the homeowner adding that the committee thought it would be unproductive because of the wording in his letter of complaint. He said it was a 'joke' to have a basketball court with no hoops and hopes they will be reinstated by the time for the park's centenary celebrations next year. A public meeting was told the council has the funding to develop plans for a new play area. But for now, the homeowner will continue to get £75-a-week. A Cardiff Council spokesman said: 'Initial engagement with local school children and information sharing with the wider community will begin shortly, with a view to resolving the noise issue and delivering improved facilities for the community as quickly as possible. 'In the meantime, the council has agreed to comply with the recommendations set out by the Ombudsman.'
Washington Post
21-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Carolyn Hax: New neighbors with two kids and a dog are 24/7 noise
Adapted from an online discussion. Dear Carolyn: Self-admitted crabby old broad here. My newish next-door neighbors are 24/7 noise. While the apartment is a studio, I can hear at least two adults and two children — one infant, one toddler. The kids are up at all hours — either screaming in delight and running around or wailing in misery. The adults yell all the time. Movies, TV and music all play at incredible volume, and now a dog was added to the mix. It howls and cries whenever they leave it alone. I don't want to be That Person, but I'm tired of asking them, at 1 a.m., to turn down the TV, music, etc. Do I report them to the condo board? They are tenants. I'm hesitant, as I worry this studio may be the only space they can afford, but also frustrated by the noise. — Crabby Old Broad Crabby Old Broad: I do feel for you, because noise invades your home and peace of mind. But there is no way two adults, an infant, a toddler and a dog in a studio apartment will ever be quiet. No way. So I think your hope they will ever be quiet is compounding your torment. It will never be quiet. Your options now are whatever's left after you accept that. Move? Complain to (or join) the condo board? Invest in soundproofing and noise remediation? Ride it out? (Since the chances they're in this for the long haul seem slim.) If you stay, then you will probably want to use various options in combination — saving the condo-board complaints for the egregious things they can control, like music and adult-yelling volume at 1 a.m. To report a noisy baby at 1 a.m. is just … crabby. Also — do you like dogs? Maybe there's an opportunity for grace here. A crying dog is miserable, and you're miserable from the dog's crying, so maybe you two can quietly upgrade each other's lives when your neighbors go out. None of these options are great, even stacked, but all of them seem better to me than the suspense of waiting in vain for the racket to stop. Re: Noise: Yes, you can get a white-noise generator. But you shouldn't have to. If they're creating the problem, then they should be creating the solution. If you have the option to report it to the condo association or manager, then report it. If it continues to be a problem, then continue to report it. You may be labeled 'that' neighbor, but again, that's their problem. — 'That Neighbor' 'That Neighbor': Great for your sense of righteousness, I'm sure. But for practical purposes, you've ordered a round of headaches for the table. The neighbors can turn their TV down, but they can't 'make' kids not be kids or dogs not be dogs. So you're mostly cranking their stress levels as they deal with a baby and toddler, broke, hoping the condo board doesn't evict them. The board, meanwhile, can somewhat enforce certain rules — TV volume after 10 p.m., say — but it can't make babies not cry, either. So you've just handed it a chronic complainer in 5E. For the owner, you've helped perpetuate the idea that living spaces obey the laws of 'should.' People who expect to govern others' voices, footfalls and lifestyles aren't super candidates for high-density housing. Another reader's thought: · I live in Times Square. No white noise machine has ever helped. What does work: a noisy, rotating standing fan, next to the head of your bed. The white noise of the whirring blades blocks out all but the most determined bass-thumping partyers.
