Who Do I Call To Report Noise Violations on O'ahu?
When reporting noise infractions and violations, it’s important to know who has jurisdiction over what type of noise and noise offenses.
-- Click Here for the 2017 Version of the O'ahu Noise Reference Manual,
-- Click Here for the 2017 Version of the Big Island Noise Reference Manual,
-- Click Here for the 2017 Version of the Kauai Noise Reference Manual, and
-- Click Here for the 2017 Version of the Maui Noise Reference Manual.
Following will discuss the jurisdiction of the Hawai'i Department of Health, and the Honolulu Police Department.
Hawai'i Department of Health.
Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 46 assigns enforcement responsibility to the Director, Hawaii Department of Health for:
• Creation of overall noise zoning
• Stationary objects (e.g., entertainment venues, clubs, etc.)
--Events held in private homes, shopping mall parking lots, and other public places MUST apply to the Department of Health for a Noise Permit when holding an event that will be widely attended where there will be loud music, public address systems, or other equipment that creates loud noises. HPD will respond to complaints of these types of loud noises and, upon request, verify that the correct Noise Permit has been issued.
• Agricultural (e.g., noise from agricultural equipment)
• Industrial (e.g., noise from industrial equipment)
Hawai'i Department of Health Contact Information:
Noise Branch
99-945 Halawa Valley Street
Aiea, HI 96701
Phone: (808) 586-4700
Fax: (808) 586-5838
Hours: Monday – Friday 7:45am – 4:30pm (except for State holidays)
James Toma, Noise Section Supervisor (james.toma@doh.hawaii.gov)
Web Site for the Hawai'i Department of Health Noise Section is: http://health.hawaii.gov/irhb/noise/
Please also note that the Hawai'i Department of Health has a page for Noise Permit applications, Noise Variance requests, and other noise-related permits. This page can be found at this link: http://health.hawaii.gov/irhb/noiseforms/
Honolulu Police Department (HPD).
Hawaii Law Enforcement is assigned enforcement responsibility, including issuance of citations and summons, for noise and related Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH), and Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS):
• ROH 15-19.28 Mufflers--Noise-controlling devices
• ROH 41-31.1 Prohibited noise. (e.g., Boom cars)
• HRS 291-22 Regulation of exhaust pipe and muffler (e.g., motorscooters)
• HRS 291-24 Motorcycles and mopeds, noisy mufflers; penalty. (e.g., motorcycles and mopeds without mufflers or with modified mufflers)
• HRS 291-24.5 Motor vehicle muffler. (e.g., vehicles with modified mufflers)
• HRS 286-22 Inspection of vehicles for safety violations (e.g., motorcycles without muffler)
HPD Contact Information:
When observing what you believe to be a violation of one of Hawai'i's noise ordinances or statutes YOU SHOULD NEVER CONFRONT THE SUSPECTED VIOLATOR YOURSELF. Report the suspected violation to HPD for action by Police Officers who have enforcement powers.
--Always be respectful of our HPD Officers.
--IF IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM IS REQUIRED: Phone 911 - The operator will ask if you are calling for Fire or Police.
--Respond that you are calling for Police and that it is NOT AN EMERGENCY (Unless it is an emergency, in which case respond that it IS an emergency).
--If immediate attention IS NOT REQUIRED: Phone (808) 529-3111
--When phoning either of the above numbers:
--Explain briefly to the responding Police Operator the reason for your call.
--You may be asked if you would like to meet with a Police Officer. This is your choice, but meeting with an officer is not required for the Police Officer to respond to your complaint.
*NEW* Aircraft Noise (airplanes, helicopters, etc):
Airport authorities don't make it easy to file noise complaints, but there is now a website that claims to make this easier. The website is relatively new, but as of this posting (27 Jan 2019) they have already reported 1,353,979 noise complaints with 37 airports nationwide. Reporting can occur at the website, via SMS messaging, and they advertise that soon they will have iOS and Android smartphone applications available to report aircraft noise from your phone. At their Airnoise Website (https://airnoise.io) they advertise "With the click of a button, instantly locate loud, bothersome flights, automatically file a complaint, and get back to the things that matter to you."
We applaud the concept and are hopeful for the potential this simplified reporting offers. Should any of our visitors use this service we would appreciate feedback via our Contact Page on how you feel about this service.
When reporting noise infractions and violations, it’s important to know who has jurisdiction over what type of noise and noise offenses.
-- Click Here for the 2017 Version of the O'ahu Noise Reference Manual,
-- Click Here for the 2017 Version of the Big Island Noise Reference Manual,
-- Click Here for the 2017 Version of the Kauai Noise Reference Manual, and
-- Click Here for the 2017 Version of the Maui Noise Reference Manual.
Following will discuss the jurisdiction of the Hawai'i Department of Health, and the Honolulu Police Department.
Hawai'i Department of Health.
Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 46 assigns enforcement responsibility to the Director, Hawaii Department of Health for:
• Creation of overall noise zoning
• Stationary objects (e.g., entertainment venues, clubs, etc.)
--Events held in private homes, shopping mall parking lots, and other public places MUST apply to the Department of Health for a Noise Permit when holding an event that will be widely attended where there will be loud music, public address systems, or other equipment that creates loud noises. HPD will respond to complaints of these types of loud noises and, upon request, verify that the correct Noise Permit has been issued.
• Agricultural (e.g., noise from agricultural equipment)
• Industrial (e.g., noise from industrial equipment)
Hawai'i Department of Health Contact Information:
Noise Branch
99-945 Halawa Valley Street
Aiea, HI 96701
Phone: (808) 586-4700
Fax: (808) 586-5838
Hours: Monday – Friday 7:45am – 4:30pm (except for State holidays)
James Toma, Noise Section Supervisor (james.toma@doh.hawaii.gov)
Web Site for the Hawai'i Department of Health Noise Section is: http://health.hawaii.gov/irhb/noise/
Please also note that the Hawai'i Department of Health has a page for Noise Permit applications, Noise Variance requests, and other noise-related permits. This page can be found at this link: http://health.hawaii.gov/irhb/noiseforms/
Honolulu Police Department (HPD).
Hawaii Law Enforcement is assigned enforcement responsibility, including issuance of citations and summons, for noise and related Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH), and Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS):
• ROH 15-19.28 Mufflers--Noise-controlling devices
• ROH 41-31.1 Prohibited noise. (e.g., Boom cars)
• HRS 291-22 Regulation of exhaust pipe and muffler (e.g., motorscooters)
• HRS 291-24 Motorcycles and mopeds, noisy mufflers; penalty. (e.g., motorcycles and mopeds without mufflers or with modified mufflers)
• HRS 291-24.5 Motor vehicle muffler. (e.g., vehicles with modified mufflers)
• HRS 286-22 Inspection of vehicles for safety violations (e.g., motorcycles without muffler)
- Noisy Neighbors (Loud Parties, Loud Music/Stereos, Loud Children, Other Disturbances)
HPD Contact Information:
When observing what you believe to be a violation of one of Hawai'i's noise ordinances or statutes YOU SHOULD NEVER CONFRONT THE SUSPECTED VIOLATOR YOURSELF. Report the suspected violation to HPD for action by Police Officers who have enforcement powers.
--Always be respectful of our HPD Officers.
--IF IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM IS REQUIRED: Phone 911 - The operator will ask if you are calling for Fire or Police.
--Respond that you are calling for Police and that it is NOT AN EMERGENCY (Unless it is an emergency, in which case respond that it IS an emergency).
--If immediate attention IS NOT REQUIRED: Phone (808) 529-3111
--When phoning either of the above numbers:
--Explain briefly to the responding Police Operator the reason for your call.
--You may be asked if you would like to meet with a Police Officer. This is your choice, but meeting with an officer is not required for the Police Officer to respond to your complaint.
*NEW* Aircraft Noise (airplanes, helicopters, etc):
Airport authorities don't make it easy to file noise complaints, but there is now a website that claims to make this easier. The website is relatively new, but as of this posting (27 Jan 2019) they have already reported 1,353,979 noise complaints with 37 airports nationwide. Reporting can occur at the website, via SMS messaging, and they advertise that soon they will have iOS and Android smartphone applications available to report aircraft noise from your phone. At their Airnoise Website (https://airnoise.io) they advertise "With the click of a button, instantly locate loud, bothersome flights, automatically file a complaint, and get back to the things that matter to you."
We applaud the concept and are hopeful for the potential this simplified reporting offers. Should any of our visitors use this service we would appreciate feedback via our Contact Page on how you feel about this service.