Comment:
Great site and insightful information for someone who just recently moved to HI.
After moving into my condo last month, I discovered a dance studio is located across the street from my building. They blast loud repetitive heavy bass music from 5pm to 1030pm five nights a week. The noise has become extremely agitating and is starting to result in stress and sleep problems.
I can’t seem to find a noise ordinance or Hawaiian guidance on how they handle these types of businesses. Is it considered an Industry, noisy neighbor, or a something like a boom box?
Would the dance studio be required to file a noise permit to operate? If so, what state agency addresses this?
Thanks,
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Aloha,
Thanks for the note and welcome to Paradise.
Good questions. I assume you have found the Dept of Health's Noise Reference Manual on our website. At page 10 you'll find the the Department of Health has jurisdiction over "Industry" and, as a business, the dance studio would likely fall under that category. That said, they are also your neighbors and in that sense HPD has jurisdiction over loud noises. We suggest contacting both Dept of Health and HPD - the former for long term resolution of the problem and to answer questions about possible noise permit requirements, and the latter each time the noise levels become intolerable. Understand, however, that when HPD responds it is completely within the responding officer's discretion whether or not to make the business bring down the noise. Still, we have also had many reports of HPD assisting in restoring quiet.
The above link to the Noise Reference Manual will provide you a contact phone number for the Dept of Health.
We will share your comments and our response, without your name, to our blog for the benefit of others. We've also added you to distribution for periodic emails addressing noise and related issues.
Quieter O'ahu
Great site and insightful information for someone who just recently moved to HI.
After moving into my condo last month, I discovered a dance studio is located across the street from my building. They blast loud repetitive heavy bass music from 5pm to 1030pm five nights a week. The noise has become extremely agitating and is starting to result in stress and sleep problems.
I can’t seem to find a noise ordinance or Hawaiian guidance on how they handle these types of businesses. Is it considered an Industry, noisy neighbor, or a something like a boom box?
Would the dance studio be required to file a noise permit to operate? If so, what state agency addresses this?
Thanks,
Quieter O'ahu Response:
Aloha,
Thanks for the note and welcome to Paradise.
Good questions. I assume you have found the Dept of Health's Noise Reference Manual on our website. At page 10 you'll find the the Department of Health has jurisdiction over "Industry" and, as a business, the dance studio would likely fall under that category. That said, they are also your neighbors and in that sense HPD has jurisdiction over loud noises. We suggest contacting both Dept of Health and HPD - the former for long term resolution of the problem and to answer questions about possible noise permit requirements, and the latter each time the noise levels become intolerable. Understand, however, that when HPD responds it is completely within the responding officer's discretion whether or not to make the business bring down the noise. Still, we have also had many reports of HPD assisting in restoring quiet.
The above link to the Noise Reference Manual will provide you a contact phone number for the Dept of Health.
We will share your comments and our response, without your name, to our blog for the benefit of others. We've also added you to distribution for periodic emails addressing noise and related issues.
Quieter O'ahu