Do I have rights against noisy neighbors with four-wheelers?

Full question:

We have a home at the river. The people next door have 2 boys that are wild. My problem is they are riding their 4 wheelers about 25 feet from my kitchen window. The dust and noise from this is driving us insane. We cannot even have a cook-out if they are on those bikes, because of the dirt and dust blowing over on us. I want to talk to the mother but I am pretty sure she will tell me off, so I need to know if this is disturbing the peace or should we just put it up for sale? The kid and his friends are all under age. This is rural property.They use their front yard for a race track. When the ground is dry it's intolerable. At times there are up to five 4 wheelers out there. We have talked to the father who told us to let the boys be boys. That's his answer. Can you tell me if we have any rights as far as this harassment is concerned?

• Category: Real Property
• Subcategory: Neighbor Relations
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Virginia

Answer:

There are several options for addressing noise from neighbors. You can consider the following steps:

• Talk to or write a letter to your neighbor about the issue.
• Contact the police if the noise is excessive.
• Reach out to your landlord or neighborhood association for assistance.
• Consider legal action for nuisance, harassment, or emotional distress.
• Discuss the issue with a local councilperson to explore noise ordinances.

As a tenant, you have the right to peaceful enjoyment of your home. Local noise ordinances may exist to regulate disturbances. You can check with city hall or the police department to see if such an ordinance is in place. Many local governments have noise regulations based on subjective nuisance standards or objective decibel levels. These aim to control noise that disturbs people with normal sensitivities. If no ordinance exists, you might petition your local representative for one.