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Not all noise is the same, and neither is the way to react. Footsteps from the flat above, building work next door, a street festival or the bar on the ground floor follow different rules and call for complaints to different people. Knowing the types of noise in condominiums saves time and frustration: you know straight away whether to talk to your neighbour, the administrator, the police or the municipal council. In this guide we describe the four most common types, the rule that applies to each in 2026 and the best way to react.
In short
- Neighbours and pets: neighbourhood noise; at night (11 pm to 7 am) the police can order it to stop immediately.
- Building works: inside residential buildings, only on working days, from 8 am to 8 pm.
- Festivals, shows, fairs: temporary activities, banned near homes at certain times unless there is a special noise licence.
- Shops and services: permanent activities, subject to the nuisance criterion and inspected by the council.
- Before complaining, record each episode with the date, time and duration.
How the law classifies noise
The General Noise Regulation (Decree-Law 9/2007) defines the categories that matter to people living in a block of flats. The most common is neighbourhood noise:
«Ruído de vizinhança» o ruído associado ao uso habitacional e às actividades que lhe são inerentes, produzido directamente por alguém ou por intermédio de outrem, por coisa à sua guarda ou animal colocado sob a sua responsabilidade, que, pela sua duração, repetição ou intensidade, seja susceptível de afectar a saúde pública ou a tranquilidade da vizinhança; — General Noise Regulation, article 3
In plain English: neighbourhood noise is noise linked to living in a home, made by someone directly or through others, by something in their care or by an animal they are responsible for, which, because of its duration, repetition or intensity, can affect public health or the neighbours’ peace.
The same article defines temporary noisy activities (building works, shows, festivals, fairs and markets) and permanent ones (for example shops and service businesses). Each category has its own hours, authorities and procedures.
| Type of noise | Examples | Main rule | Who to contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Neighbours and pets | Music, parties at home, jumping, a barking dog | Art. 24 RGR | Neighbour, administrator, PSP or GNR |
| 2. Building works | Renovating a flat, works on common parts | Art. 16 RGR | Person in charge of the works, administrator, council |
| 3. Festivals, shows, fairs | Street parties, concerts, markets | Arts. 14 and 15 RGR | Municipal council, police |
| 4. Shops and services | Café, restaurant, gym on the ground floor | Art. 13 RGR | Municipal council |
1. Noise from neighbours or pets
This is the most frequent case: a loud television, music, conversations on the balcony at night, jumping, furniture being dragged or a dog barking for hours.
How to react:
- Talk to your neighbour at a calm moment. Often they do not know the sound carries into other flats.
- If that does not work, tell the administrator, who must make sure the regulations are respected (article 1436 of the Civil Code).
- At night, between 11 pm and 7 am, call the PSP or the GNR: they can order the noise to stop immediately (article 24 of the RGR). During the day, they can set a deadline.
If the noise comes from footsteps or impacts rather than unusual behaviour, the cause may be the building’s poor sound insulation. In that case a conversation helps more than a complaint: rugs, felt pads under furniture and indoor shoes make a difference. Our article on settling disputes with neighbours has practical tips.
2. Noise from building works
Repair, renovation or maintenance works inside residential buildings can only take place on working days, between 8 am and 8 pm. The person responsible must post a notice in an accessible place with the expected duration and, where possible, the noisiest period (article 16 of the RGR).
How to react:
- Check whether the notice with the duration of the works has been posted.
- Works on Saturdays, Sundays or at night: talk to the person responsible and, if it continues, contact the police.
- Works on the common parts are decided by the general meeting; ask the administrator for the schedule.
See the differences between types of works in condominiums.
3. Noise from festivals, shows, fairs or markets
These are temporary noisy activities. Near residential buildings, they are banned on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays and, on working days, between 8 pm and 8 am (article 14 of the RGR). In exceptional cases they can be authorised by a special noise licence issued by the municipality, which must be requested at least 15 working days in advance (article 15).
How to react:
- Ask the municipal council whether the activity has a special noise licence and for what hours.
- If it has no licence or goes beyond the permitted hours, contact the police or the council.
4. Noise from shops and businesses
A café, restaurant, bar or gym on the ground floor is a permanent noisy activity. It is subject to exposure limits and to the nuisance criterion: the difference between the noise level with and without the activity cannot exceed 5 dB(A) during the day, 4 dB(A) in the evening and 3 dB(A) at night (article 13 of the RGR).
How to react:
- Talk to the person running the business and record each episode.
- Complain to the municipal council, which can order acoustic measurements.
- If there is also a problem with service, use the Complaints Book.
- If the business is in a unit of the building, check whether its use matches the constituting deed (article 1422 of the Civil Code).
What evidence to gather
- A log with the date, time and duration of each episode.
- Audio or video recordings made from inside your own flat.
- Statements from other neighbours.
- Copies of your messages to the neighbour, the administrator or the council.
- The police incident number, if you called the police.
Read also the general rules on noise in the condominium.
What the condominium can do
The general meeting can approve rules on noise in the common parts and fines for anyone who breaks them, up to an annual limit of a quarter of the unit’s taxable income (article 1434 of the Civil Code). These rules belong in the condominium regulations, so every owner and tenant knows them in advance.
How Condoroo helps
Condoroo manages more than 600 condominiums, including buildings with more than 300 units, with a team of more than 20 professionals. According to Condoroo’s call metrics, our average call time is 5 minutes and 15 seconds, and we send hundreds of letters a month, each one with tracking, so warnings about breaches of the regulations can be proved.
Types of noise in condominiums: frequently asked questions
What are the types of noise in condominiums?
Neighbourhood noise (people and animals), noise from building works, noise from temporary activities such as festivals and shows, and noise from permanent activities such as cafés and restaurants.
Does a barking dog count as neighbourhood noise?
Yes. The General Noise Regulation includes noise from animals someone is responsible for, when its duration, repetition or intensity disturbs the neighbours’ peace.
Who do I complain to about the restaurant on the ground floor?
The municipal council, which inspects permanent noisy activities and can order measurements.
Do street festivals need a licence?
Near homes, temporary noisy activities outside the permitted hours need a special noise licence from the municipality.
Can my neighbour do building work on a Sunday?
Noisy works inside residential buildings are only allowed on working days, from 8 am to 8 pm.
What evidence should I keep?
The date, time and duration of each episode, recordings, statements from neighbours and copies of the complaints made.
This article is for information only and does not replace legal advice on your specific case. Legislation checked on 26 October 2026.
