What Texas law says about dealing with noise complaints, noisy neighbors

Your home is supposed to be a safe, comfortable place. But when one can hear music so loud it’s shaking the house or a constant yapping dog barking, home doesn’t feel so cozy.

With recent complaints about TCU house parties and student noise, we thought we could explain solutions on how to deal with noisy neighbors.

In Texas, particularly in unincorporated county areas, any noise that’s louder than 85 decibels can be breaking the law. Fort Worth’s noise rate is set at 70 decibels during the day and 60 at night in residential areas. This is quieter than a lawn mower or maybe even a blender. A vacuum cleaner is right around 70 decibels.

According to Texas law and the city’s ordinances, here’s what you can do.

Fort Worth noise ordinances

The City of Fort Worth enforces the following rules:

For residential zones:

• Daytime: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. = 70dBA (equivalent to a running vacuum cleaner)
• Nighttime: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. = 60dBA (equivalent to a normal-level conversation)

All non-residential and mixed-use zones:

• Daytime: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. = 80dBA 
• Nighttime: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. = 70dBA

“H” Central Business District,“TU” Trinity Uptown, and West 7th Village:

• Sunday—Thursday Daytime: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. = 80dBA
• Nighttime: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following day = 70dBA 
• Friday—Saturday Daytime: 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. the following day = 80dBA 
• Nighttime and Sunday: 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. = 70dBA

First, try speaking with your neighbor to set boundaries

Though noisy neighbors can be aggravating, it’s best to try and sort it out neighbor-to-neighbor before involving local law enforcement.

Noise complaints are low priority to police officers, so filing one doesn’t always guarantee that law enforcement will come right away to solve the problem. And sometimes, police arrive after the noise has died down.

The City of Fort Worth created a neighbor-to-neighbor program to help those who live in Fort Worth understand how to be a good neighbor from parking to noise violations and trash/litter control.

Janet Williamson, one resident who lives in the Westcliff neighborhood near TCU’s campus, told the Star-Telegram in March she attempts to resolve the issue of student house party noise by speaking with the students directly.

How to file a noise complaint on a neighbor

To file a noise complaint in Fort Worth, there are a few options:

Can you sue for a noisy neighbor?

If your neighbor is repeatedly being a disturbance, the only way to get them to stop being loud may be to ask the court for money damages.

Like any court case, to win, you would need to provide ample evidence. Keeping a record of evidence is the best way to prove guilt. Emails, police reports, notes, videos or a recording of the offensive sound are all valid evidence.

In court you would need to specify:

• There is excessive and disturbing noise. 
• The person you’re suing is either creating the noise or is the landlord and therefore responsible and your enjoyment of your home is affected. 
• You have asked the person to stop the noise. 

However, taking your neighbor to court does not promise a payment. Promoting peace would be a more realistic expectation.