Neighbor Law

• Department of Natural Resources (DNR) - The Minnesota DNR has source standards for snowmobiles, motorboats, personal watercraft and off-highway vehicles.
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - The FAA has source regulations for commercial jet engines.  All commercial jet engines must meet noise emission criteria prior to being certified for flight.
• Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) - Regulation of railroad related noise is the responsibility of the FRA.
• Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - HUD has noise regulations that establish acceptable noise zones HUD housing projects must fall into.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - OSHA has regulations to protect against hearing loss in the workplace.  These are "dose standards" that restrict the amount of noise an employee receives over a period of time, such as eight hours.
• Local Agency - A local governing agency, such as a city, may or may not have an ordinance regulating noise levels.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) - The MPCA has a receiver-based standard intended to limit noise levels and protect the health and welfare of the general public.

If you live in a planned community or rent an apartment, you have extra remedies that may be available to you besides the town noise ordinances. 

Rentals:  You may wish to take a look at your lease agreement containing the clause entitled "Quiet Enjoyment."  If the tenant is being too noisy (their stereo is keeping you up all night, etc.,) they may be in violation of the lease agreement and that my be grounds for eviction.  Speaking to your landlord, whether this clause exists in your lease or not, is a common first step in solving the problem.

Planned Communities:  When you buy a condo or a house in a planned community, the deed often contains restrictions called restrictive covenants.  Restrictions against excessive noise are quite common.  The restrictions apply to you, your neighbors, and any tenants who are renting.  What's more, they place the responsibility for the tenant's actions on the owner.  In planned communities and condos, the right to enforce the rules is usually placed in the hands of a residents' committee.  Consulting either party provides another possible step to take before calling in the law.

Source:  Neighbor Law, 7th Edition (pp. 37-38)

In our positions as librarians, not lawyers, we can suggest resources but cannot give legal advice (such as which form to file) or legal opinions (such as how a statute might apply to particular facts). To do so could be considered the unauthorized practice of law. Even though we try to suggest materials that will be of help, more research is often required to find a complete and correct answer. For many questions, the best answer may be to consult an attorney.