Every neighborhood has its own unique soundtrack—children laughing and playing outside, lawnmowers humming on a sunny afternoon, dogs barking as they enjoy time with their owners, and more. These are the sounds that give a community its heartbeat. However, when these noises become disruptive, they can create tension among neighbors.
In a homeowners’ association (HOA), where residents share common spaces and amenities, managing noise complaints effectively is essential to maintaining a positive living environment. Here are some practical strategies for handling HOA noise complaints and promoting community harmony.
Across communities, the noises that you’ll hear are similar. Often, they come and go without much issue, but ones that can cause conflict may include:
In many cases, HOA noise complaints can be resolved amicably through direct communication with the offending party. Board members should encourage residents to approach their neighbors politely and respectfully, express their concerns about noise, and seek mutually acceptable solutions. If that approach is unsuccessful, community members will need to review HOA noise rules outlined in the governing documents, bylaws, CC&Rs, and rules and regulations and appropriately move forward. It varies by community, but the following steps are often recommended:
Governing documents guide boards and homeowners through so much, including noise complaints. Check out our complete HOA governing document breakdown to find out how they can help you!
For an HOA board, it's essential to approach a noise complaint with professionalism and empathy. Here are some tips for navigating the process:
Typically, standard guidelines are already in place for boards to handle these situations. To ensure you’re working within your scope of power:
Strong communication from the board strengthens communities. When handling noise complaints, communication is especially crucial to guarantee issues don’t escalate. Remember to always:
Education is key to helping homeowners manage noise issues on their own. Armed with the proper tools and information, residents can confidently navigate a noise complaint resolution without the board’s involvement. However, it’s the responsibility of the board to guide homeowners on the steps and protocols to get there. As a board, you should:
All rules related to noise should be reviewed and updated by communities periodically (preferably on an annual basis) so they remain effective in addressing the needs of the community. You should:
Every community can benefit from professional advice and resident feedback. Seeking guidance from the ones who know your association best fosters cooperation and transparency. Whether it’s a noise complaint or another conflict among homeowners, consider input from these parties:
HOAs can use professional partnerships for a variety of services. Follow our guide to learn about the professional service providers every board needs!
One of the first steps a board may take after receiving several HOA noise complaints is to send a violation letter to the offender. Used to address a violation formally, many communities send a violation letter as an initial notice of an infraction. To learn how to correctly write a violation letter, follow the tips in our “How To Create An HOA Violation Letter” ebook. With this guidance, you’ll be able to address noise complaints and other issues more smoothly.
April Herrick is the Community Association Management Director at Associa McKay Management.