Can I make noise at night?
No, not to the point of disturbing neighbours. Night noise — noise at night that disturbs others' peace (loud music, parties, shouting, works) — is an offence. Contrary to a common belief, there's no single legal time and no need to measure decibels: it's enough that the noise is audible from the neighbour's home and is repeated, intense or prolonged. At night (in practice 10pm–7am) a disturbing neighbour noise can be fined directly. Excessive daytime noise is also punishable.
📋 The rules
- Night noise = noise disturbing neighbours at night (an offence)
- No decibel measurement needed — the noise must be audible and abnormal
- Criteria: repeated, intense or lasting
- Applies in practice 10pm–7am
- Excessive daytime noise is also punishable (neighbour noise)
🔓 Exceptions
- Occasional, reasonable everyday-life noise: tolerated
- Building sites/works: hours set by municipal order
- Events authorised by the town hall: a specific framework
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Night noise is punished by a fixed fine of €68 (raised to €180 if paid late) and can reach €450 in court. Police or gendarmerie can step in and seize the equipment causing the noise (sound systems, speakers). For persistent nuisance, the victim can also bring a civil action for abnormal neighbour disturbance and obtain damages.
📎 Official sources
- Service-Public.fr · Neighbour noise / night noise →
- Légifrance · Article R.623-2 of the Penal Code (noise) →
- Ministry of Health · Neighbour noise →
❓ Frequently asked
From what time is it night noise?
In practice, night runs 10pm–7am, but there's no single legal time. Disturbing night noise can be fined without measuring decibels, as long as it's audible at the neighbour's and abnormal.
Do you have to measure the noise to fine it?
No. For night noise, no decibel measurement is needed. It's enough that the noise is directly perceived as disturbing, repeated, intense or prolonged. Officers can record the offence by ear.
What's the fine for night noise?
A fixed fine of €68, raised to €180 if paid late, and up to €450 if the case goes to court. The equipment causing the noise can be seized.
What about daytime noise?
It can also be punished. It's then neighbour noise: abnormally intense, repeated or lasting noise, even by day, is a disturbance that can be fined and lead to compensation.
What to do about a noisy neighbour?
First try dialogue, then a letter. If the night disturbance persists, call the police or gendarmerie, who can record the night noise. For lasting nuisance, a civil action for abnormal neighbour disturbance is possible.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “night noise time law france”
- “night noise fine 68 euros”
- “neighbour noise night what to do”
- “night noise no decibels”
- “noisy neighbour night police”
- “daytime noise penalty”