Northern Ireland noise and nuisance legislation

This page provides links to the full text of key pieces of noise and nuisance environmental legislation that may affect your business in Northern Ireland. The websites hosting the legislation may list amendments separately.

If you are setting up an environmental management system (EMS) for your business, you can use this list to start compiling your legal register. Your legal adviser or environmental consultant will be able to tell you if other environmental legislation applies to your specific business.

Environmental management systems and environmental reports

Anti-social Behaviour (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 SI 1988 (including amendments up to 2004)

Sets out the rules on nuisance which could lead to an anti-social behaviour order.
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Contains measures to improve the quality of the local environment by giving district councils additional powers to deal with litter, fly-posting and graffiti, dogs, noise, statutory nuisance, nuisance alleyways, abandoned vehicles and shopping trolleys.
Control of Noise (Codes of Practice for Construction and Open Sites) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 SR 303

Approves four British Standards Institution codes of practice for appropriate methods of minimising noise and vibration from construction and open sites in Northern Ireland.
Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors Regulations 2001 SI 1701

Establishes maximum noise levels for equipment used outdoors, mainly in construction and land maintenance, such as generators, lawn mowers, compaction machines and concrete breakers.
Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors (Amendment) Regulations 2001 SI 3958

Amends 2001/1701 to clarify that the regulations apply to the sound power level of equipment.
Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors (Amendment) Regulations 2005 SI 3525

Amends 2001/1701 to set out the sound power limits for various categories of equipment.
Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 SR 1049 (NI 19)

Regulates waste on land, abandoned vehicles, noise nuisance, noise abatement zones, sulphur content of oil fuel used in furnaces and engines, cable burning, and pollution of the atmosphere and water. Other aspects have been revoked.
Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 SI 312

Amends SI 1986/1078 by adding regulations which require that tyres fitted to certain vehicles are marked with an S mark to show that they comply with the noise emission requirements of Directive 92/23/EEC as amended by Directive 2001/43/EC.

Public Health (Ireland) Act 1878 (Not available online)
Sets out the rules on statutory nuisance, including dirt, rubbish, air pollution and odours, which could lead to the local council or the DoE issuing an abatement notice.

Northern Ireland noise and nuisance legislation

Anti-social Behaviour (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 SI 1988 (including amendments up to 2004)

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Control of Noise (Codes of Practice for Construction and Open Sites) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002 SR 303

Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors Regulations 2001 SI 1701

Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors (Amendment) Regulations 2001 SI 3958

Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors (Amendment) Regulations 2005 SI 3525

Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 SR 1049 (NI 19)

Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 SI 312

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