Like in many other cities, Chicago has a law in place to keep the amount of unnecessary noise to a minimum. The city is a big, busy place, and consequently is extremely loud. Obviously, cities can’t control all the noises that occur in cities, but what can be controlled is.

The Department of Environment (also known as the DOE) works in conjunction with the Chicago Police Department (also known as the CPD) to enforces what is called the Chicago Environmental Noise Ordinance. This is a section of the Municipal Code that sets time limits and noise standards on a wide range of noise sources in the City. The noise law is practiced and enforced to keep the amount of noise in the city balanced to a reasonable extent. This ordinance is in place to help workers work, visitors enjoy the city, families to feel safe and comfortable, and communities to remain pleasant and enticing places to live.

The Chicago Environmental Noise Ordinance addresses several noise sources, including industrial machinery, construction work noise, nightclubs, traffic and much more. For example, the Chicago muffler function is vitally important and if a car, truck, van, or trailer does not have a properly working muffler or, for some other reason, makes an extreme amount of noise, the driver could be given a ticket by a member of the Chicago police department.

The Department of Environment in Chicago works cooperatively with the Chicago Police Department, as well as many other city agencies to address some of these recurring, prevalent noise issues. If citizens or visitors should encounter or be forced to endure an excessive amount of noise caused by machinery, parties, or other sources, they are able to dial 311 and speak with one of the many operators that are trained to refer noise complaints to the appropriate people who can deal with the disturbance.

If you are a citizen or visitor in this situation, dial 311 and your call will be routed to the appropriate city department. Once you speak with a representative, they’ll dispatch the appropriate authority figure who can give the quickest possible response. If the complaint is an extremely severe one and needs to be handled by DOE, then DOE will dispatch an inspector to investigate. Until an authority arrives, citizens can take the follow steps (according to the city of Chicago’s website):

• For emergency situations, call 911.
• For recurring noise problems in your neighborhood, consider attending a police beat community meeting to raise the issue with your local police officers. Call the CAPS Hotline at 312.744.2277 for meeting locations and times.
• For problems with a loud neighbor, the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) offers a free mediation service that assists in settling a variety of neighbor-to-neighbor disputes. Contact CCR by phone at 312.922.6464, or e-mail at ccr@ccrchicago.org. Note: CCR is a not-for-profit corporation and not a City department.
• For everyday city noise, it may be beneficial to take some soundproofing measures in your home or office building.