Excessive and unhealthy noise levels in Providence and other cities are the result of both municipal, state, and federal law, and public policy that determines how (and to what degree) those laws are actually implemented.
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Providence
“Here are the noisiest parts of Providence, based on 5,500 noise complaint calls to the police,” Providence Journal (Sept. 7, 2023) — Only 19 citations were issued in response to over 5,000 complaints, including and especially to repeat offenders who generated hundreds of reports.
“Providence mayor’s way to crack down on loud noise in the city: Give police decibel readers,” Providence Journal (May 30, 2023)
“Providence is as loud as Boston, Brown professor says,” Boston Globe (May 4, 2023) — It’s worth noting that Boston is more than 3.5 times larger in population, and more that four times larger in geographic area.
“‘We Will Not Tolerate This,’ Says Providence Police Chief Following Club Brawl,” GoLocalProv (Sept. 13, 2022) — An article about a melee at a notoriously loud Providence restaurant / bar called Mi Sueño that routinely violated city sound ordinances for years. It includes the following quote:
“One of the responding [police] officers called the music at Mi Sueno … ‘obnoxiously loud to the point where it most definitely would be heard’ by residents in the surrounding area, adding in ‘no way’ should the club have a permit for an event … with the [volume] level of music being played.”
Yet until 2023, the club was never cited for violating city sound ordinances, despite having done so on a weekly basis for years. And until the 2022 brawl, the Board of Licenses granted every request to renew its entertainment license. So to be accurate, the Providence Police actually tolerated it for a very long time.
City Council member Goncalves’ quality-of-life report urges “de-normalizing” noise (July 2022)
Providence City Council amendment to limit leafblower noise and time of use (October 2021)
Providence City Council Resolution on Noise Pollution (April 2021)
Providence Noise Law infosheet (PVD Noise Project, English / Español PDF, Feb. 2021)
“Wild place in the city?” Providence Journal (Sept. 9, 2019)
“The City That Endangers the People It is Supposed to Protect,” Providence Rules blog (March 2018)
Providence Rules (2015–2018) — A blog written by former trial attorney Johanna Harris, who served as chair and later commissioner of the Board of Licenses (BOL) for three years ending in January 2017. It covers the BOL’s sordid history of ignoring commercial violations of city noise ordinances.
For actual Providence noise ordinances and relevant RI noise statutes,
visit our noise laws page
Rhode Island
“Noise from a firing range is driving neighbors crazy. Police say they have no money to fix it,” Providence Journal (Nov. 14, 2023)
“City of Newport seeks to crack down on noise with help of A.I.,” What’s Up Newport (Nov. 9, 2023)
“Gunfire Noise Pollution in Cranston, Rhode Island,” Community Noise Lab (July 6, 2023)
“Police plan for crackdown on loud motorcycles in North Smithfield,” Northern RI News (Feb. 22, 2023)
“Is gun range too close to schools?” Cranston Herald (April 5, 2022) — Like Providence, an adjacent RI city government refuses to enforce its own noise laws, in this case against its own police force.
(R-324) “Resolution Creating a Special House Commission to Study Motor Vehicle Noise Pollution,” Rhode Island House of Representatives (June 27, 2001) — The stated purpose of the commission was “to study and review the problem of noise pollution caused by motor-vehicle sound systems and the implementation of laws prohibiting noise pollution.”
“[East Greenwich, RI] Council Hears of Waterfront Noise, Drunks & Parking Woes; Considers Stricter Rules,” East Greenwich News (March 5, 2019)
Other U.S. cities and states
Northeast
“Braintree neighborhood says nearby pickleball courts cause ‘constant stress’,” WBZ Boston (July 6, 2024) — The city installed acoustic panels half way around the court, and is considering limiting the hours people can play.
“Bill allowing use of photo noise monitoring moves to [CT] Senate floor,” Connecticut Inside Investigator (April 4, 2024)
“NYC bill would enforce quieter, European-style sirens for emergency vehicles,” New York Post (June 24, 2023)
“Who enforces noise complaints in upstate New York?” Albany Times-Union (Oct. 3, 2022)
Roadside Sound Meter and Camera that is Activated by Loud Mufflers Now Sending Notices to Vehicle Owners (February 2022) — Announcement of a noise camera pilot project by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. It has since been expanded.
“Playing loud music could soon cost you a ticket in Philly,” WHYY 90.9 FM, Philadelphia (Dec. 7, 2021)
“Automating the War on Noise Pollution,” Bloomberg News (Dec. 2, 2021)
NY State Zero-Emission Lawn and Landscape Equipment Legislation (Oct. 27, 2021) — The proposed bill would require all in-state sales of new lawncare and landscaping equipment such as lawnmowers, leafblowers, and trimmers be zero-emissions (i.e., electric-powered) by 2027
“Morristown [NJ] council clamps down on noise, sidewalk skateboards, and weed in parks,” Morristown Green (Sept. 15, 2021) — Among the targets of a new noise ordinance are barking dogs, unmuffled leafblowers, and booming car stereos
“[NY State] Legislature passes SLEEP Act to ban loud vehicles,” WTEN, Albany, NY (June 20, 2021) — Covers a law that prohibits modifying a motor vehicle (including motorcycle) muffler to increase the sound of its exhaust above prescribed limits, raises the fine for doing so from $150 to $1,000, and requires all police cars in the state to have sound-level meters.
“Noise violators could be slapped with $1,000 fine for blaring music, revving engines,” WTXF Channel 29, Philadelphia (June 15, 2021)
“Vermont town of Brandon mulls noise ordinance,“ Associated Press (April 3, 2021)
The Right to Quiet by Rick Reibstein, Boston University — Quiet Communities (2021)
“A Guide to New York City’s Noise Code,” New York City Department of Environmental Protection (March 2018)
NY State Comptroller: “Silencing Excessive NYC Noise a Major Challenge,” (Jan. 29, 2018) — Press release that accompanied the report below finding that although noise complaints to NY City’s 311 system, often about the same locations, nearly doubled from 200,000 in 2010 to about 384,000 in 2015, few are ever found to be in violation of the city’s noise code.
”Noise in New York City Neighborhoods: Assessing Risk in Urban Noise Management,” Office of the New York State Comptroller (January 2018)
“New York’s War on Noise,” New York Times (July 13, 2013) — An archival timeline of long-standing efforts by successive New York City mayoral administrations to address excessive noise, from the turn of the 20th century through 2013. If nothing else, it clearly demonstrates that urban noise is not, as its apologists and denialists fervently insist, a chimeric complaint fabricated solely to accelerate racist gentrification, but in fact has existed as a public health issue for centuries.
Southeast U.S.
Southwest Florida Noise Task Force press conference on modified mufflers, YouTube video (Aug. 2024)
“Amazon noise enforcement proposal raises thorny legal issues,” Fauquier Times, VA (Feb. 1, 2023)
“Northern Virginia community grapples with how to handle pickleball noise complaints,” Fox 5, Washington, DC (Jan. 27, 2023)
“Proposed legislation would bring ‘noise cameras’ to DC. Here’s how they work.” WUSA Channel 9, Washington, DC (Jan. 26, 2023)
“Ssshhhh, says Peachtree City’s new noise ordinance,” The Citizen, Fayetteville, GA (April 11, 2022)
Non-East Coast
“Positive Soundscapes: A Doubly-Cool Trend for Municipalities,” Resilience.org (Aug. 7, 2024)
“California’s all-electric shift is ramping up. Here’s what will start vanishing from shelves in January,” San Francisco Chronicle (Dec. 2, 2023) — Describes the state’s ban on small, gas-fueled engines.
“Anchorage is increasing fines for noisy vehicles,” Anchorage Daily News (Dec. 11, 2022)
“New noise ordinance goes into effect for Houston,” KHOU Channel 11 (Sept. 6, 2022)
“Utah lawmaker works to cut down noise pollution,” KUTV / Salt Lake City (Jan. 21, 2022)
Moab [Utah] residents sound off against OHV noise. Lawmakers listen, advance bill that may silence the vehicles at night.” Salt Lake Tribune (February 2021)
“California Is So Tired of Your Car’s Loud Fartcan Exhaust They’ll Now Fine You for It,” The Drive (May 23, 2019)
“A Guide to Noise Control in Minnesota,” Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (Nov. 2015)
U.S. federal legislation and policies
Quiet Communities Act of 2023 — A bipartisan bill (H.R. 4892) that would shift responsibility for mitigating aircraft noise near airports from the FAA to the EPA, and restore funding for the EPA’s Office of Noise Abatement and Control, which was de-funded by the Reagan administration in 1981.
Highway Traffic Noise Analysis and Abatement Policy and Guidance, U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (Aug. 2017)
“Lessons from a public policy failure: EPA and noise abatement,” Ecological Law Quarterly Vol. 19 (1992)
For existing U.S. law on noise, visit our Federal noise law page
International legislation and policies
“Costa Rica Proposes Groundbreaking Law to Combat Noise Pollution,” Tico Times (Aug. 22, 2024)
“Toronto City Council votes to lower noise for indoor and outdoor activities,” Toronto Sun (Feb. 8, 2024) — In some North American cities, the City Council actually listens and responds to residents
“Noise monitoring: Remarkably less nighttime noise in Leuven’s smart city,” Medium (Dec. 18, 2023)
“Popular Spanish destination to make Airbnbs install noise meters,” Express (June 5, 2023)
“Bill to tackle air and noise pollution passed in the [Welsh legislature], supporting a cleaner, healthier and greener future,” Wired Gov, Wales (Nov. 28, 2023)
“Judge orders Montreal suburb to compensate residents for excessive traffic noise,” City News Canada (Nov. 3, 2023)
“[Public housing] Tenant killed himself after landlord failed to resolve repeated noise complaints,” Guardian UK (Nov. 2, 2023) — A subsequent government report cited the housing provider for “severe maladministration.” More details here, and responses here.
UK Noise Association’s “Manifesto to Tackle Noise and Provide Solutions” (Sept. 2023)
”Adopting Anti-Sound Pollution Measures Mandatory [for] Durga Puja,“ Outlook, West Bengal, India (Sept. 2022) — Report on Pollution Control Board’s efforts to reduce noise during an annual religious festival.
“Barcelona to install sound-level monitors in bid to beat noise pollution,” Guardian (June 14, 2022)
“Canadian trucker protests show how the loudest voices in the room distort democracy,” The Conversation (Feb. 16, 2022)
”Hamilton council wants police to blitz ‘toxic masculinity’ muffler noise,” Hamilton Spectator, Ontario, Canada (June 2020)
“ ‘Acoustic cameras’ tested in bid to cut noisy vehicles,” BBC (June 8, 2019)
“[Mayor John] Tory takes aim at noisy motorcycles, cars on Toronto streets,” Toronto Star, Canada (Sept. 3, 2018)
Taiwanese Environment Ministry’s vehicle-noise reporting system (English translation) — Allows Taiwanese citizens to report excessively loud vehicles and track the progress of actions taken by government.
Media Coverage
New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
“Braintree neighborhood says nearby pickleball courts cause ‘constant stress‘,” WBZ News, Boston (July 6, 2024)
“Another Year of Live Music at Waterford Restaurant Despite Neighbors’ Noise Complaints,” Connecticut Examiner (June 7, 2022)
“Boston.com readers are fed up with late-night noise,” Boston.com (June 11, 2021)
“East Providence residents claim noise from Providence is so loud, it shakes their homes,” WPRI-12 (June 3, 2021)
“Boston Calling fest turned down the volume, as promised, after ‘horrific’ 2017 sound leak,” Cambridge Day (May 2018)
“Portsmouth [NH] Up In Arms Over Noise Complaints,” New Hampshire Public Radio (Aug. 28, 2014)
U.S. beyond New England
“Homeowner says nobody told him noisy oil well site would go in yards behind home,” KFOR Channel 4, Oklahoma City (Feb. 2, 2024)
“21-year-old killed when man ‘frustrated’ by noise opens fire into street, CA cops say,” Sacramento Bee (May 4, 2023)
“Noise complaints are on the rise in NYC, and they are turning deadly,” New York Daily News (March 28, 2023)
“The Apartment Building Next Door Won’t Shut Up!” New York Times (Jan. 28, 2023)
“New York Is a Noisy City. One Man Got Revenge.” New York Times (June 4, 2019)
“To Create a Quieter City, They’re Recording the Sounds of New York,” New York Times (Nov. 6, 2016)
International media
“The growing menace of annoying sounds that affect our health,” Irish Times (March 19, 2023)
“What you can do about noise pollution,” Echo Live, Cork, Ireland (Nov. 30, 2022)