Can I make noise in a flat after 10 pm?
No — making noise in a flat at night is not allowed, and a breach can cost far more than most people think. Night, by law, runs from 10 pm to 7 am, but peace is also protected in the evening hours from 7 pm to 10 pm. That is where the myth hides: many think any level of sound is fine until 10 pm. Article 488 of the Code of Administrative Offences provides that shouting, loud music or other noise-making — in the evening and at night, including in residential premises — when it disturbs others' peace, rest or work, carries a fine. Another myth is that you must "measure the decibels": in fact liability arises for disturbing the peace, not for a specific sound level, so the officer only has to establish the disturbance itself. Since 2023 the fines were raised: an individual faces €80–200, and for a repeat offence €200–300, so the "€20–80" figure repeated online is now out of date.
📋 The rules
- Night — 10 pm–7 am; peace is also protected in the evening 7–10 pm
- Disturbing peace, rest or work in residential premises is banned (ANK 488)
- Fine for an individual — €80–200; repeat — €200–300 (since 2023)
- For legal-person managers — €200–300, repeat — €300–400
- No need to measure decibels — the disturbance itself is punished
🔓 Exceptions
- Public events held at a set time with a permit have a separate procedure, not the ANK 488 fine
- Construction and renovation noise is additionally governed by the Law on Noise Management and municipal quiet hours
- A one-off sound that does not disturb the peace (for example, a short conversation) is not an offence — real disturbance matters
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The fine is only part of the cost; repeated noise can even end in a ban from attending events. Under Article 488 of the Code of Administrative Offences, disturbing public peace carries €80–200 for an individual and €200–300 for a repeat offence; for legal-person managers or other responsible persons it is €200–300 and €300–400 respectively. An important change: a 2023 reform (No. XIV-2077) raised these sums, so the "€20–80" limit still repeated in older articles no longer applies. If the noise is made at a public event, an additional ban on attending public events from one month to one year may be imposed. What often goes unnoticed: the police can act on a neighbour's complaint and draw up a report without any sound meter, and persistent noise can become grounds to terminate a tenancy or bring a civil claim over improper conduct.
📎 Official sources
- e-seimas · Code of Administrative Offences (Art. 488) →
- e-seimas · Law on Noise Management →
- Lithuanian Police · disturbing public peace →
❓ Frequently asked
From what time do quiet hours apply?
Night under Article 488 runs from 10 pm to 7 am. But others' peace is also protected in the evening hours from 7 pm to 10 pm, so making noise in residential premises that disturbs neighbours is not allowed in the evening either, not only at night.
What is the fine for noise at night?
Disturbing public peace carries a fine of €80 to €200 for an individual, and €200 to €300 for a repeat offence. These amounts were raised in 2023, so the €20–80 range still repeated online is now out of date.
Do the decibels have to be measured to issue a fine?
No. Article 488 punishes disturbing others' peace, rest or work, not a specific measured sound level. So the officer only needs to establish the disturbance itself, and a sound meter is not required to impose the fine.
What can I do if a neighbour makes noise at night?
First it is worth approaching the neighbour directly, and if that does not help, call the police, who can draw up an administrative report. The complaint can be supported by sound recordings or witness statements, which help prove the disturbance.
Do quiet hours apply to renovation work?
Yes, construction and renovation noise is additionally governed by the Law on Noise Management and by municipal quiet hours. In many municipalities noisy work is banned in the evenings, at night and on rest days, with local fines for breaches.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “quiet hours lithuania”
- “can i make noise after 10 pm”
- “fine for noise at night”
- “quiet hours in a flat”
- “article 488 lithuania”
- “neighbour making noise at night”