Navigating Noise Pollution Laws and Curfews for Music Festivals.

Depending on an event’s location and the governing jurisdiction festival organisers may be faced with noise restrictions and night time curfews. What can organisers do to navigate and manage these challenges to reach a balance between festival-goer and local resident satisfaction whilst complying with any restrictions imposed.

Noise pollution is increasingly a concern for communities located close to proposed music festival venues and numerous laws and restrictions have been introduced to help enforce the rules in prevailing jurisdictions. Noise pollution is often closely linked to curfew restrictions that limit the operating hours of a music festival and failure to comply can lead to fines and even cancellation. How can festival organisers navigate these sometimes-complex requirements.

Location Considerations.
Any noise restrictions and curfews are dictated by a festival’s location with city venues usually facing the most severe rules due to the high density of residential properties. It is likely that most city venues are fixed and already operating within local rules. Any greenfield remotely located festival site will have more relaxed rules and will be dependent on local communities where limits can be negotiated. For these reasons organisers of larger multi-day festivals may prefer a location that is more remote allowing them to operate for longer hours each day without tightly enforced noise level restrictions.

Know the Rules for Regulatory Compliance.
Noise pollution is measured using decibel levels often in dB(A) or dB(C) for bass frequencies and this can be specified by regulatory authorities who are responsible for monitoring noise pollution. Many jurisdictions have legislation relating to noise pollution which consider local residents sleeping hours and the impact on wildlife. Failure to comply with local laws can lead to fines or in some cases forced premature closure of the event which can jeopardise future event permit applications. The UK has specific legislation relating to noise pollution, the Noise Act 1996 and Environmental Protection Act 1990 for example. Operating hours will usually be specified by the same authority that issues event permits and alcohol licences and can vary between 10pm and midnight for city locations. Less populated remote locations can sometimes get extensions on any curfew laws up to the early hours of the morning.

Noise Level Measurement Parameters.
Festival organisers may be required to submit a formal assessment of expected noise levels at different distances from a proposed event site. This requires contracting a noise control specialist who can make an informed assessment of likely noise levels based on the surrounding environment and amplification equipment being used. Any assessment should include specific details relating to expected maximum peak dB(A) along with average noise levels over time, LAeq over 15 mins or 5 mins for example. In addition, the level of background noise should also be taken into account with limits of no more than +10 dB(A). In sensitive city locations there may be a requirement for continuous monitoring of decibel levels on the live event dates to ensure compliance. Organisers work with acoustics experts to set up their amplification and speaker array equipment so that sound is engineered to be directional which helps to focus sound towards audiences and away from residential neighbourhoods minimising sound bleed. Engineers can also utilise technology to automatically limit or compress audio if it exceeds a preset threshold helping to stay within agreed requirements.

Consultation with Local Residents.
When organisers make applications for event permits and related alcohol licences, they should always include a section on consultation with local residents. It is common for a proposed event to be announced and to create a local meeting where plans are explained to local residents giving them an opportunity to voice any concerns. Any objections raised need to be taken into account and may form part of any terms specified by a licensing authority. During the live event days, it is recommended that organisers set up a dedicated hotline number for local residents who may wish to ask questions about operating hours or complain about noise levels at a given time for example. This feedback allows organisers to immediately adjust sound levels if necessary.

For festival organisers planning their next event using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, site planning, cashless payments and contactless ordering.

Image by MAGstd via Pixabay

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