Aug 22, 2025
Outdoor equipment can be quite noisy. When used too often, or outside of appropriate times, they cause distress and discomfort for others. In some situations, legal action falls into a gray area where the sound may not be loud enough to hold up in a court case. For example:
- Broken, noisy air conditioning units
- Prolonged noise from generators
- Pool pump too loud or running too long
- Excessive noise from lawn mower
While annoying, all of these would need to meet some thresholds to be considered a nuisance and thus qualify for legal action:
- The noise level exceeds your local ordinance, as measured from the edge of your property
- The noise continues for an extended period of time
- The noise recurs frequently
My Neighbor’s Pool Pump is Too Loud
Pool pumps are normally quite loud – as loud as 85 dB. That’s as loud as a blender. When a pump is in disrepair, it can be even louder. If your neighbor’s pool is close to your property, this likely violates your local sound ordinance laws. In Houston, the decibel limit for daytime hours on a residential property is 65 dB.
If it’s your own pump – or if your neighbor is willing to cooperate with you to reduce the noise – buying a pump cover can make it more manageable depending on the proximity to your house or property.
How Many Decibels is a Lawn Mower?
Depending on the type of lawn mower, you can expect it to run between 75 and 100 dB. Gas-powered mowers are louder, and are the most common type. This is the reason protective gear is suggested when mowing your lawn, and why professionals wear noise-canceling earmuffs. Just two hours a day of sustained 85 dB noise can cause damage to your hearing.
Air Conditioner Noise Too Loud
Modern window unit air conditioners are fairly quiet out of the box. If your neighbor has a brand new one, it’s likely no louder than 45 dB. Large outdoor units for central air conditioning are much louder, often up to 80 dB. Especially in apartment buildings, these units may be situated quite close to your living space, letting in lots of noise through the windows even late at night. Of course, some units may run louder than others depending on their state of repair.
Can I Submit a Noise Complaint Against My Neighbor?
If the noise is coming from your neighbor, you may be able to get some relief by submitting a formal complaint. First be sure to talk to your neighbor directly to give them a chance to resolve the issue without involving the law. After that, the easiest way to file a complaint is to call 311 or your local police department’s non-emergency line. Some cities, like Dallas, have other options – including a mobile app and a website.
Block Outside Noise Yourself
Filing a noise complaint may not be an option. You may find yourself in one of these situations:
- The sound is legally allowed but still annoying
- You are particularly sensitive to the sound
- Your noise complaints haven’t changed anything
- You live outside city limits and thus have no sound ordinance
- You don’t want to file a complaint
- The sound is from your own equipment
Your best option is to block out the noise yourself. Preventing noise from coming into your home can be as simple as soundproofing the windows closest to the noise. Typical windows are more concerned with energy efficiency, and are not very good at keeping noise out.
We produce and install a product to fix this problem without replacing windows or messy construction of any kind: soundproof window inserts. These inserts install on the interior of your home and are barely noticeable. They are renter and HOA-friendly, and can stop as much as 95% of the noise from outside.
Our inserts aren’t just for blocking AC noise and lawn mower sound. Installing a soundproof window insert means more peace from all sound. Loud music, barking dogs, traffic – anything. Take a look at our FAQ page here, or get started by submitting a free estimate request. It only takes a few minutes – and could greatly improve your quality of life.
Aug 21, 2025
What happens when you file a noise complaint in Texas? If it’s a valid complaint and you live in a city with a reasonable noise ordinance, the offender may get a warning. Repeat offenders may face legal action.
So exactly how do you file a noise complaint against neighbors, and who do you call for a noise complaint? The answer mostly depends on your living situation.
Contact the Landlord
If the person responsible for the noise is renting, their landlord may want to know about their behavior before you involve the law. This is especially true if:
- You are also a tenant of the same landlord
- There are other neighbors nearby
- Their lease or rental agreement has a “Quiet Enjoyment” clause
The “Quiet Enjoyment” clause is defined by Nolo as:
“The right of a property owner or tenant to enjoy their property without interference.”
This is a clause that requires the landlord to resolve disturbances caused by their tenants, and in extreme cases may empower the landlord to evict unreasonable tenants.
Regardless of what clauses are present, the first line of defense for an apartment noise complaint should be the landlord. If you aren’t renting from the same landlord: look for an on-site office or a sign with a phone number; google search the address and look for the owner’s details; or search property and tax records for your county online.
311 Noise Complaint
Wherever you are, you can always dial 311 for noise complaints. They won’t actually help you submit a noise complaint, but they will connect you to the appropriate service and can provide you with general information.
Public Health Department and Code Enforcement
Do not contact Code Enforcement or the Public Health Department for noise complaints. While they do handle complaints about other nuisances, they will not help with noise complaints.
911 Noise Complaint
Noise complaints are generally not considered emergencies. As such, you should not call 911 for a noise complaint. You can however call the non-emergency line for your police department to report a noise complaint. These numbers are:
- Houston: (713) 884-3131
- Austin: 311
- Dallas: (214) 744-4444
- Fort Worth: (817) 392-4222
Austin’s 311 is their official non-emergency line. If you need to reach Austin 311 but you’re outside the area, call (512) 974-2000.
What is the noise ordinance in my area?
Noise ordinances differ by location and may change over time. Noise ordinances are listed in dB (decibels). Daytime noise limits by city include:
- Houston – 75 dB, or 65 dB for residential areas
- Austin – 80 to 85 dB depending on the time
- Dallas – up to 80 dB
- Fort Worth – 80 dB, or 70 dB for residential areas
Generally speaking, if the sound is at or above the dB limit as heard from the limits of your property, it’s too loud. There are occasionally caveats for noise ordinances – see the links above for details.
How Loud is 75 dB?
The best way to determine the volume of something precisely is with a decibel meter. If you have an iPhone, the NIOSH Sound Level Meter App is accurate enough to use for this purpose. If not, good decibel meters cost about $20-$30 on Amazon.
Using a meter may be a good idea if you plan to build evidence for a stronger complaint and/or ultimately for a court case. However, your ears are likely good enough to decide if the noise is too loud. Here are some common decibel levels to compare to:
- Lawnmower – 107 dB
- City traffic – 85 dB
- Dog barking – 80 dB
- Vacuum – 75 dB
- Normal conversation – 65 dB
- Whispering – 25 dB
Remember that decibel limits apply to how loud they are perceived from other properties. Regardless of how loud the sound is at its source, if it fades enough to be below the threshold before reaching an adjacent property, it’s perfectly acceptable.
Can I file a noise complaint online?
Yes, most cities give you the option to file an anonymous noise complaint online. Many municipalities have 311 websites, apps, and email addresses for this purpose:
What if I live outside city limits?
There are no county or state sound ordinances in Texas. For nuisance disputes between neighbors outside of city limits, your only legal option is to file a lawsuit. In this situation you will need to provide evidence of the excessive noise yourself. This is the right time to invest in a decibel meter.
Alternative to filing a noise complaint
Sometimes a noise complaint won’t cut it, such as when:
- The noise is annoying even though it’s technically within the decibel limit
- You’re outside city limits
- Law enforcement won’t do anything
- The noise isn’t sustained long enough to be considered a nuisance
- The noise is environmental like traffic or trains
Hope is not lost. In situations like these, you still have some control. Soundproofing your home is a long term investment and is an action you can take right now to gain some peace and quiet.
Windows are one of the weakest points in a soundproofed room. Properly installed soundproof window inserts fix this problem without sacrificing the aesthetic and functionality of your home. We provide free, no obligation estimates for custom soundproof window inserts. Get in touch with us today and see what your options are. We’re here to help!
281-336-8685
