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Sleep habits

Quiet hours and noisy neighbours: what newcomers should know

Moving abroad often means learning a new set of unwritten noise rules at 2 a.m. This page lists, for eight countries, what official sources say about night-time quiet hours and what to do about a noisy neighbour. The short version: in most of these countries there is no single national clock time. Quiet hours usually come from a city ordinance, a regional law or the rules of your building, so we give an hour only where an official source states it, and otherwise say that it varies by city or building rules. Then come practical steps and sleep tips using this site's sound player.

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Where quiet hours come from

Official pages in several of these countries say the same thing in different words. Germany's Federal Environment Agency says neighbour-noise rules sit in state laws, municipal rules and house rules (Hausordnungen). Austria's government portal says there is no legally fixed absolute night rest between 22:00 and 06:00 and that each case is judged individually. The Dutch government says that in many municipalities neighbour nuisance is punishable under the local ordinance (APV). So the first thing to check is your city's rules and your building's house rules (your lease, the community or homeowners' rules, or the notice in the hallway).

Country by country

Checked on official pages on 26 Oct 2026. Rules change and cities differ, so confirm with your city council or landlord.

Spain

No national clock time confirmed here: it varies by city (municipal noise ordinances) and by building rules. As an example, Madrid's Ordinance on Protection against Acoustic and Thermal Pollution (OPCAT) defines the night period as 23:00 to 07:00, and on public holidays as 23:00 the evening before until 08:00. Its limits for noise reaching a neighbouring home are stricter at night, for example 25 dB in bedrooms against 30 dB by day. Other cities set their own hours.

Source: Ayuntamiento de Madrid: noise limits in adjoining premises (OPCAT art. 16) [ES]

France

No clock time confirmed here: it varies by commune and by the rules of your building (règlement de copropriété). Service-Public (the government's citizen portal) says a neighbour's noise counts as a nuisance when it exceeds the normal inconveniences of neighbourhood life, meaning repeated, excessive or abnormal given local habits and usual hours. Everyday noises such as children playing or an occasional party are not covered, while frequent parties at night are an example of nuisance. Police or gendarmerie can come and record noise, notably night-time disturbance, and fine the person responsible.

Source: Service-Public: Is the landlord responsible for nuisances caused by a tenant? (checked 14 Sep 2026) [FR]

Germany

No single national hour: varies by state law, city rules and your building's house rules (Hausordnung). The Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) says rules on neighbour noise are in the state immission-control laws, municipal rules and house rules, and that they set when there is an increased right to quiet. Separately, a federal regulation generally bars running garden machines such as lawnmowers and chainsaws in residential areas on Sundays and public holidays and between 20:00 and 07:00. That covers machines, not voices or music.

Source: Umweltbundesamt: Nachbarschaftslärm (updated 12 May 2025) [DE]

Italy

No clock time confirmed here: it varies by city (municipal regulations) and by condominium rules. At national level, article 659 of the Criminal Code covers disturbing people's rest or occupations through shouting, noise, misuse of sound devices or letting animals make a racket, and the offence is prosecuted on the injured person's complaint. ARPA Lombardia says that for shouting or noise from private individuals, reports go to the local Polizia Locale, while noise from businesses or infrastructure goes to the Comune.

Source: Gazzetta Ufficiale: Codice penale art. 659 [IT] · ARPA Lombardia: what citizens can do about disturbing noise [IT]

Portugal

The environment agency (APA) says neighbour noise has no fixed legal acoustic limits, but whoever makes it must not harm public health or the neighbourhood's tranquillity. If the noise happens between 23:00 and 07:00, the person disturbed can ask any police authority to have the noise stopped immediately. Between 07:00 and 23:00 the police set a deadline for it to stop.

Source: APA (Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente): requisitos e valores limite [PT]

Netherlands

No national hour confirmed: it varies by municipality (local ordinance, APV) and by building rules. The government says neighbours must accept normal living sounds such as children playing, coughing, vacuuming or doors closing, and suggests agreeing times for DIY or music. In many municipalities neighbour nuisance is punishable under the APV. A civil judge can order neighbours not to play music or do DIY between certain times, or to stay under a set decibel level.

Source: Rijksoverheid: What to do about nuisance from neighbours [NL] · Rijksoverheid: Noise nuisance in the law [NL]

Austria

The government portal says there is no legally set absolute night rest between 22:00 and 06:00, contrary to a widespread belief. Noise must not be made in an unreasonable way at any time, with a stricter standard in the usual rest times (especially at night and on Sundays and public holidays). Each case is judged individually, usually on the spot by the police. Times for lawn mowing and other loud work can be set by municipalities.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at: Lärm (updated 9 Jan 2026) [DE]

United Kingdom (England)

England has no single national bedtime, but there is a night window in the law. Councils must investigate complaints of statutory nuisance (noise that unreasonably and substantially interferes with using your home) at any time of day or night. They may also issue a warning notice when noise from a home exceeds permitted levels between 11pm and 7am, and then measure it from inside the complainant's home. This government page applies to England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules, which we have not checked.

Source: GOV.UK: Noise nuisances, how councils deal with complaints (England) [EN]

What to do

  1. Talk first. Austria's government portal, the Dutch government and Germany's Federal Environment Agency all name speaking to the person making the noise as the first step. Many people simply do not know the noise carries. Pick a calm moment, keep it neighbourly and say what you hear and when.
  2. Leave a polite note. If a conversation is awkward, or in a language you do not yet speak well, a short, friendly note with the dates and times is fine. Service-Public describes a simple letter as the next step after talking, followed by a registered letter if the problem continues.
  3. Use the building administrator or landlord. Official pages point to the landlord or housing association in the Netherlands, the homeowners' association (vve) for owners, the landlord or Hausverwaltung in Germany, and the syndic in France. Check your lease or house rules first, as they may set quiet times.
  4. Try mediation. The Dutch government lists a neighbourhood mediator (buurtbemiddelaar) as a route if the nuisance continues. In France, Service-Public mentions a free conciliateur de justice or a paid mediator as options for a landlord dealing with a tenant.
  5. Call the municipal or police line. Which office takes the call depends on the country: the police in Austria, Portugal and France, the council's environmental health service in England, the Polizia Locale in Italy for shouting and similar noise, and the municipality or police in the Netherlands. Look up your city's number on its website. We could not confirm an official complaint route for Spain from the pages we could access, so check your ayuntamiento's site.
  6. Keep a simple record. Service-Public suggests collecting evidence before escalating, for example witness statements from other neighbours or a record with the police. Even a dated list of what you heard is useful.

Sleeping while it is sorted: earplugs and steady sound

Sorting out a neighbour can take weeks, and you still need tonight's sleep. Earplugs are the simplest option: pick a pair that is comfortable to sleep in, try them for a few nights, and stop and ask a pharmacist if your ears hurt. A steady sound can also soften irregular noises such as voices or thumps, which tend to wake you more than a constant hum. This site offers brown noise (deep and soft), pink noise (a little lighter), a fan and rain, free, with no account and working offline. Use the sleep timer and keep the volume low enough to be comfortable. The research on sound as a sleep aid is limited, so it may help some people and not others.

Brown noise Pink noise Fan sound

Not legal advice

This page is general information, not legal advice. It only repeats what the linked official pages say; rules differ by city and building and can change. For a real dispute, contact your city council, your landlord or administrator, or a qualified adviser. If you feel unsafe, call the local emergency number.

Questions

Is there one national quiet hour in these countries?

Not in most of them. Official sources point to city ordinances, state laws or building rules (Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, France), and Austria's government says there is no legally fixed absolute night rest. Portugal and England mention 23:00 to 07:00 or 11pm to 7am in their rules for neighbour noise.

Who should I contact first about a noisy neighbour?

The official pages we checked put talking to the neighbour first, then the landlord, building administrator or homeowners' association, then the municipality or police. A neighbourhood mediator is a Dutch option.

Can brown or pink noise help me sleep through neighbour noise?

A steady, even sound can soften irregular noise and make it less startling. Evidence is limited, so it may help some people and not others. Keep the volume low, use the timer and consider earplugs too.

Sources

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