Valérie, a resident in Saint-Maurice-sur-Aveyron, is troubled by noise from her neighbor’s livestock, including guineafowls, turkeys, and chickens, which are just five meters from her home. Despite living there for fourteen years, she only recently raised concerns due to a new tenant. Local regulations outline noise nuisance criteria and distance requirements for livestock, urging initial dialogue with neighbors before escalating issues. If unresolved, formal complaints and legal actions may be necessary, though many disputes can be settled amicably.
Noise Disturbances from Neighboring Livestock: A Case Study
Valérie, a resident of Saint-Maurice-sur-Aveyron in the Loiret region, is facing challenges due to the ‘nuisances’ created by her neighbor’s guineafowls, turkeys, and numerous chickens, which are situated just five meters from her home. She expresses her frustration, stating, “You can’t go out without hearing all this noise.”
Having lived in her home for fourteen years, this is the first time Valérie has raised concerns, triggered by the arrival of a new tenant next door. In the videos she provided, the clamor from the animals is evident, especially at 7:30 AM. Valérie estimates that there are approximately twenty animals outside at any given time, including roosters, two turkeys, four guineafowls, and a host of chickens.
Understanding the Legal Framework for Animal Noise
When it comes to animal noise, the public health code provides the relevant guidelines. Three significant criteria determine whether the noise is considered a nuisance: duration, intensity, and frequency of the noise. Demonstrating just one of these criteria can support your case. Conversely, the occasional crowing of a rooster or gobbling of a turkey is generally accepted as normal.
There are also specific distance regulations based on the number of animals kept. In urban areas, these rules are stringent, while they are more relaxed in rural settings. For instance, if a neighbor has between 10 and 50 chickens, the common regulation requires a minimum distance of 25 meters from the chicken coop.
Before escalating the matter, it’s advisable to initiate a conversation with your neighbor to address the noise issue. If the noise persists, you can report it to the police or gendarmerie, which can lead to an official report and a potential fine of up to 450 euros.
In Valérie’s situation, her initial attempt at dialogue was met with indifference from her neighbor, who allegedly dismissed her concerns. In such cases, it is recommended to contact the mayor for assistance. Valérie took this step, but unfortunately, it didn’t yield results. If discussions fail, seeking help from one of France’s 3,000 conciliators of justice may be an option. This service is free, and you can find a conciliator by contacting your local town hall. Although the conciliator cannot compel your neighbor to engage, they can facilitate discussions, which have proven effective in about half of the cases.
Next Steps If Noise Issues Continue
If the situation remains unresolved, consider sending a registered letter to your neighbor formally requesting that the noise be reduced. Unfortunately, this may lead to the need for legal action. To strengthen your case, hiring a bailiff to accurately measure the noise levels can be beneficial, although this does come with a cost of around 200 euros. You can locate a bailiff through the official website of the profession: commissaire-justice.fr. Valérie has identified three within a 25-minute drive from her location.
Interestingly, simply threatening to involve a bailiff can often motivate neighbors to change their behavior voluntarily, leading to many disputes being settled without court intervention.
As for the legal protections against rural noise, they do not apply to Valérie’s case. Since she has lived in her home for fourteen years and her neighbor is new to the area, the law—which is designed to safeguard farmers from unfounded complaints by newcomers—would need to be applied the other way around for it to be relevant.
If you have questions regarding similar situations, feel free to submit them via video on our dedicated page or by emailing us directly.