Sounds Of Summer: What To Do About Noisy Neighbors [Block Talk Survey]

ACROSS AMERICA — Do noisy neighbors who party late into the night, start their loud lawn tools just after sunrise and let their dogs bark all day long make you loathe spring and summer?

Or, there you are, trying to throw your own backyard party, and the bass on your neighbor’s stereo has your guests clutching at their fluttering hearts.

Noise can pit neighbors against each other, especially in warm weather when people are outside or have their windows open. Acceptance of some noises — kids playing in their back yards, people taking care of their property and other sounds of everyday life during reasonable daylight hours — is just part of peacefully living alongside others.

There’s a line, though. What is it?

How much noise should you reasonably expect from the people living next door, upstairs or downstairs? And short of moving deep into the woods to escape them, what can you do about habitually noisy neighbors?

We’re asking for Block Talk, Patch’s exclusive neighborhood etiquette column. Just fill out the form below, and be assured that we don’t collect email addresses.

Editor’s note: This survey closed on June 7, 2024.

About Block Talk

Block Talk is an exclusive Patch series on neighborhood etiquette — and readers provide the answers. If you have a topic you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com with “Block Talk” as the subject line.

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