Full question:
Our neighbor has started a gravel pit. The noise is intollerable. It operates starting before dawn, and into the night, and on weekends as well. It is damaging to our mental and physical health. We have no peace. We bought our home seven years before the gravel pit began operation. We have been told by a real estate agent that the gravel pit has had a significant effect on our propeerty value. We are distraught. Please advise
- Category: Real Property
- Subcategory: Neighbor Relations
- Date:
- State: Montana
Answer:
There are several options for addressing noise from a gravel pit:
- Consider discussing the issue directly with your neighbor or writing a letter to them.
- You can file a complaint with the police or sheriff's office.
- If applicable, reach out to your landlord or neighborhood association for assistance.
- Explore the possibility of filing a lawsuit for nuisance, emotional distress, or breach of peaceful enjoyment.
- Contact your local councilperson about enacting a noise ordinance if one doesn’t exist.
Check with city hall or the police department to see if a noise ordinance is in place. Many local governments have noise control regulations that aim to limit excessive noise that disturbs residents. These can be based on subjective standards (like annoyance) or objective standards (like decibel levels). Recent trends have led to more detailed regulations that combine both approaches to effectively manage noise issues.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.