Am I allowed to make noise in the evening in Norway?
There is no national law with fixed quiet hours for private homes. Most of it is decided by the Neighbour Act §2, which says you may not unreasonably or unnecessarily trouble a neighbour — noise is judged against a tolerance threshold that is stricter at night and in quiet residential areas. In public, the municipality's police bylaw often requires quiet between 23:00 and 06:00. In a housing co-op the house rules apply, often setting quiet from 22:00 or 23:00 to 07:00, and noisy renovation until around 20:00 on weekdays, not on Sundays. These are house rules and practice, not national law.
📋 The rules
- No national law on fixed quiet hours in private homes
- Neighbour Act §2: noise judged against a tolerance threshold
- Police bylaws often require quiet in public 23:00–06:00
- Housing co-ops: house rules often 22/23:00–07:00
- Renovation typically until 20:00 weekday, not Sunday
🔓 Exceptions
- For a detached house outside a co-op, only the threshold and police bylaw apply
- In city centres the tolerance threshold is higher than in quiet areas
- Necessary one-off work is generally tolerated
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Breaching the municipality's police bylaw can bring a fine under the Police Act §30, with no fixed rate. Civilly, the Neighbour Act can give a right to a stop order (§10) or compensation (§9). Complain first to the board, then the police for disturbance in public.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Is there a law on quiet after 23:00?
No, not for private homes. Police bylaws often require quiet in public 23:00–06:00, and co-ops have their own house rules.
When can I renovate and drill?
Usually on weekdays until around 20:00, until 18:00 on Saturdays, and not on Sundays. These are typical house rules, not law.
Who do I complain to about a noisy neighbour?
First the co-op board, then the police for disturbance in public, or the municipality under the public-health law.
Can a neighbour be evicted for noise?
In a co-op, repeated, substantial noise can bring a warning and ultimately a forced-sale order, but it takes a lot.
Must I tolerate ordinary noise from neighbours?
Yes, ordinary living sounds must be tolerated. It is persistent, unreasonable noise above the threshold that the Neighbour Act covers.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
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