Help! Churches and Noise
We bought a house in Flatbush about two years ago now and have been haunted ever since by the church next door. We expected there would be music/noise during service hours, but this church allows LIVE BANDS to reherse all at night throughout the week. In a room with no sound proofing that’s right next…
We bought a house in Flatbush about two years ago now and have been haunted ever since by the church next door. We expected there would be music/noise during service hours, but this church allows LIVE BANDS to reherse all at night throughout the week. In a room with no sound proofing that’s right next to our living room (and wall of windows).
Sometimes the rehersals go late into the night. More often, they start around 8:00 pm and go right until 11:00. It’s driving us crazy…never mind that the music is terrible (not church music, it’s more like bad, loud jazz): we can’t just hang out in our living room a few nights a week. Forget about summer evenings when the windows are open.
We’ve spoken to the pastor several times–he maintained they were here before us (yes, gentrification plays a role here) and have never bothered anyone before us. He also insisted they aren’t breaking any laws. We had one police officer out who said they had to limit music to service times…and told them so. But then last night a precinct officier called us (after a desperate 311 call) and told us the church isn’t violating any codes or laws.
Could this be true? Could churches be subject to other noise codes than the rest of us? Could it really be legal to have live bands playing loudly a few times a week?
Any advice would be MUCH appreciated. In addition to our sanity, we’re worried about losing our tenant who lives in a small apartment in the back of the house, even closer to the church.
Thanks.
I think the point is those things SHOULDN’T matter. Even in this country churches sometimes have to obey the law. Usually when they’re forced to.
OP, they’re most likely in violation of noise ordinances. They’re also renting out practice space for these bands. I don’t believe churches are exempt from noise regs. Get a decibel meter, record and document and sent to precinct and community affairs. Think you’d have a hard time getting them to be reasonable on Sunday mornings, but a band practicing loudly is likely a no-no for a church, as it would be for any taxpaying entity.
I think the last time this kind of issue came up it was determined that noise may be made until 11 p.m. on weekdays but there are limits to how much. I’d get the decibel meter & track it so that maybe the church would have to do some noise abatement.
quote:
Leave aside whether it’s a church, a bar, a circus, or a private home – it really doesn’t matter. It also doesn’t matter who was “here first”
perhaps not legally, but in all other facets of life, yes those things DO matter.
*rob*
If you lived closer to the BQE the white noise would help drown out annoying sounds from next door.
Leave aside whether it’s a church, a bar, a circus, or a private home – it really doesn’t matter. It also doesn’t matter who was “here first” or whether they’re a “gentrifier” or any of the other excuses people like to dream up about why the rules shouldn’t apply to everyone equally. A history of breaking the law and getting away with it doesn’t constitute an excuse to go on doing it indefinitely.
The question is, are they breaking the rules? There are specific rules about the amount of noise that’s allowed at specific times of the day; the rules are enforced by the DEP. I’m not an expert, but you should do some research, maybe buy a sound level meter, and determine whether they’re in violation. If you think they are, you can complain to the DEP, and (eventually) they’ll do an inspection. You may find that they aren’t in violation – in which case you have to get over it and decide what you’re going to do next: maybe move, maybe turn your own music up, maybe bribe them to soundproof the practice room.
Of course if it turns out they are breaking the rules, and they get cited/fined, you may not like the effect that has on your relationship with the church – or with your other neighbors. But it’s also possible that they are annoying the shit out of a lot of other people in the area as well, and that those people would be grateful that someone finally intervened.
Nude bicycle protesters?
This sounds like a fight you’re not going to win, especially if you’re the only people complaining. I assume there are other houses nearby – what do your neighbors think?
Might be better to focus on what you can do within your house to mitigate the loud noise. Regarding keeping the windows open in the summer, you just may not be able to do it, unless you become fans of bad jazz.
oh yeah good idea, retaliate against a church and your neighbors.. whoever gave you that advice isnt giving you good advice at all. yes go ahead, how about a bag of flaming poop on their doorstep? im SURE you’ll be such loved neighbors in your neighborhood if you retaliate.
*rob*
if community affairs is not helpful, then retaliating might be your only option. start blaring a bull horn during services.
Posted by: alexmax at March 24, 2010 9:50 AM
If I’m not mistaken, there was a post here a few years ago about someone doing just this sort of thing. I think it was a synagogue though.
I assume you also get double parking in front of your house on Sunday, no???